Exploring the Impact of Occupational Adaptation-Focused Interventions on Music Student Health

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy
• Music medicine
• Musculoskeletal health

Background:

• Music students face high risks of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders.
• Early intervention is crucial for managing these conditions and ensuring long-term well-being.
• Occupational adaptation is a key framework for addressing health challenges in performing artists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of occupational adaptation-focused interventions for music students.
• To evaluate the impact of these interventions on pain and upper extremity function.
• To explore the relationship between adaptive capacity and health outcomes in student musicians.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest/posttest design was employed.
• Music students received occupational therapy based on the Occupational Adaptation model.
• Assessments included the DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand) Performing Arts Module and an occupational adaptive process evaluation.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in current pain intensity (p < .042) and 24-hr pain intensity (p < .003) were observed.
• Participants showed significant improvements in DASH scores, indicating better arm and hand function (p < .005).
• A strong correlation was found between increased adaptive capacity and improved DASH scores and reduced 24-hr pain.

Conclusions:

• Occupational adaptation-focused interventions effectively improve health outcomes for university music students.
• These interventions address body functions essential for music performance and enhance students' adaptive capacity.
• Targeted occupational therapy can mitigate musculoskeletal issues and improve the overall health of student musicians.