[Musculoskeletal disorders in instrumental musicians: epidemiological study]

To evaluate the frequency and types of musculoskeletal problems of French instrumental musicians.

Voluntary musicians answered an anonymous questionnaire about their musical practices, their medical history, and the evaluation of the troubles they feel during playing music. The musicians have been contacted in music schools, professional and not-professional orchestras.

During this study 635 musicians received a questionnaire. 141 answered it (22.5%): 76.6% suffer from overuse syndrome, 17% from entrapment neuropathies, 5.7% from occupational hand cramp. The main topographies are spine (60.9%) and wrist and hand (52.5%). Instrumental characteristics are exposed.

Instrumental musicians often present musculoskeletal problems. A specific management would be useful to limit eventual drammatical consequences.