4 Common Injuries Among Musicians

Musicians sometimes get hurt because of too much practice or bad habits when rehearsing. Read on to learn about 4 injuries that commonly affect them.

Often abbreviated as CTS, carpal tunnel syndrome is a disorder in the nerves of a person's wrists and hands. It's usually a result of prolonged and repetitive activities, like when a musician is rehearsing. This condition typically affects those who play stringed instruments, such as the violin, guitar, and bass. Pianists and saxophonists can get this injury, too, since they also use their fingers a lot.

CTS causes a lot of pain and inflammation around the affected area. In some cases, the thumb, index, and middle fingers become numb. When this happens, the patient can't play their instrument until they get treated by a hand specialist. Surgery is often recommended, but full recovery may take a lot of time. Depending on the severity of the condition, it may take 1 to 2 months for their hands and wrists to fully heal.

Sometimes referred to as a "broken wrist," distal radius fracture is usually caused by accidents, such as falling down the stairs or slipping on the floor. But, it can also be a consequence of overuse, like performing repetitive activities for a long period. It's a debilitating condition for many musicians since it results in a lot of pain.

An individual who sustains a distal radius fracture should immediately seek professional help. Orthopedic doctors may suggest putting the affected area in a cast. The healing process usually takes 3-6 weeks, and the musician can't use their hands and wrists during that time.

The medical name for this is stenosing tenosynovitis. It's characterized by a blockage in the tendons, which is often a result of stress and extreme pressure. This injury causes inflammation in the back of the hand and a slight pain when bending the fingers. It mostly affects pianists, cellists, saxophonists, violinists, and guitarists.

Mild stenosing tenosynovitis can easily be treated by resting for 2-3 days. Severe conditions require the help of a hand and wrist specialist in Atlanta. They may recommend getting an X-ray image of the affected area so they can determine if an operation is necessary to remove the blockage in the tendons completely.