Factors Associated with Musculoskeletal Pain Among Music Students in Iran

Playing-related musculoskeletal pain is common among music students. We aimed to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and the factors associated with the presence of musculoskeletal pain among music students in public music conservatories in Tehran, Iran.

Participants included 383 music students, age 12-18 years, from Tehran, Iran. A cross-sectional study was performed from October to November 2021 through convenience sampling. Demographic characteristics and musculoskeletal pain were collected using a self-report questionnaire, the Numerical Rating Scale, and the Nordic Body Map questionnaire, respectively. Postural behavior of participants was assessed using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment checklist.

In the convenience sample, 59.3% of music students reported at least one symptomatic musculoskeletal pain in the last week. Female gender (OR 2.34, 95% C:1.37-3.99, p<0.001), age (OR 1.66, 95% C:1.08-2.54, p<0.001), postural behavior (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.81-1.39, p<0.001), and duration of playing (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99, p<0.001) were significantly associated with the playing-related musculoskeletal pain. History of playing and instrument type had no relationship to pain.

The main risk factors associated with playing-related musculoskeletal pain in music students were the participants' characteristics (female gender and age), postural behavior, and playing duration. The findings support the need to design educational programs for music students in order to prevent playing-related musculoskeletal pain.