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Abstract Objective To evaluate prevalence of performance-related pain among musicians and compare pain characteristics, associated disability and approach to pain management, between music students and professional musicians. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study was performed in a multi-stage stratified cluster random sample of 585 musicians, stratified by music students (294, among which 234 were at pre-university level and 60 at university level) and professional musicians (291). The main outcome was performance-related pain, measured by Performance-related Pain among Musicians Questionnaire (PPAM). Secondary outcomes were: pain management approach, physical activity levels, fatigue, distress, and health-related quality of life. Results The lifetime prevalence of performance-related pain was 55.0% (n = 322), being significantly higher among professionals (57.5% vs 42.5%, P .001). Pain intensity scores were significantly higher in professional musicians (P .05), but pain interference in performance was higher among music students, who also reported significantly higher levels of fatigue (P = .008) and distress (P .001), and lower quality of life (P .001). Regardless of the high levels of pain intensity and interference, fatigue, anxiety and depression, and low levels of quality of life, 33% musicians who developed pain had never looked for healthcare (this proportion is significantly higher for music students, 57%, P .001). Conclusions We present the first multicenter study on performance-related pain among musicians with different backgrounds, using a validated tool, and distinguishing music students from professional musicians. Performance-related pain is a highly prevalent and disabling condition among musicians, however, its proper evaluation and management are still often underappreciated, contributing to significant impairments and reduced quality of life.
Zão et al. (Sat,) studied this question.