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Primary bowing tremor: a task-specific movement disorder of string instrumentalists
1Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. ledermr@ccf.org
Medical Problems of Performing Artists
|December 19, 2012
Summary
String instrumentalists may experience uncontrollable bow tremor, a condition distinct from essential tremor or focal dystonia. This study identifies and names it primary bowing tremor, a task-specific movement disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Music Performance Science
Background:
- String instrumentalists commonly fear bow tremor, often attributed to technique or anxiety.
- Previous understanding lacked a specific diagnosis for this debilitating condition.
Observation:
- Five high-level string players (4 violinists, 1 violist) presented with uncontrollable bow tremor.
- Tremor characteristics varied by bow stroke and contact point; onset ranged from 16 to 75 years.
- In most cases, tremor was task-specific, worsening initially then stabilizing.
Findings:
- The observed tremor differs from essential tremor and focal dystonia.
- The condition is proposed as a new task-specific movement disorder: primary bowing tremor.
- Similarities with primary writing tremor suggest a shared underlying mechanism for task-specific tremors.
Implications:
- Primary bowing tremor requires recognition as a distinct neurological condition in musicians.
- Understanding this disorder can lead to targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
- Further research into task-specific movement disorders in instrumentalists is warranted.
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