The health problems of the musicians

30 percent of the musicians are leaving their job prematurely because of health problems

31.10.2012

The profession of the musician is a bone job. While regular health checks are part of everyday life for competitive athletes, there are hardly any offers for health care provision for professional musicians. Experts are now sounding the alarm because 30 percent of musicians have to give up their job prematurely for health reasons.

Occupation of the musician is a bone job
Headaches, deafness, back and cervical vertebrae as well as mental overload are just a few of the complaints many musicians suffer from. According to experts, there is an urgent need for action, because more than a quarter of the musicians prematurely leave their job for health reasons. „Professional musicians have a bone and muscle job, comparable to that of a competitive athlete, "explains Egbert Seidel, a musicologist from Weimar, to the news agency „dpa“.

„Where professional footballers or competitive athletes finish their careers in their mid-30s, a musician has more than 30 years to go“, emphasizes Gerald Mertens, Managing Director of the German Orchestra Association (DOV). For example, many violinists suffer from shoulder discomfort, drummers become hard of hearing over time and flutists complain of pain on the elbow. Although almost every professional musician knows such complaints, there are hardly any offers for health checks that are specifically tailored to the needs of musicians. Also Willibert Steffens, health expert of the DOV, criticized the meager offer and stressed against the „dpa“: „There are too few prevention offers. "Moreover, the precautionary measures often have to be paid for by the musicians themselves, adds Seidel, with young musicians complaining about complaints. „Making music in the orchestra demands physical and mental excellence from every member of the orchestra, especially in terms of musical-technical precision and precise interplay“, explains Mertens.

Musicians are most likely to suffer from orthopedic problems
A survey of the DOV, in which 2,500 professional musicians participated this year, has shown that orthopedic problems such as shoulder and back complaints are the most common among the instrumentalists. But also hearing impairments were often cited by respondents. Not least because of these health problems, many musicians have to retire prematurely from their job. „30 percent of the musicians do not reach the regular retirement age because of health problems ", explains Steffens. „Orchestras finally need their own medical care - the big philharmonic orchestras as well as the small ones. "

This opinion is also Mertens: „Both the musicians and the orchestras as an institution have to look for ways and framework conditions to maintain and promote the performance of the instrument as long as possible. This includes u.a. the urgently needed implementation of the European Union guideline for ear protection in orchestras / trenches, which is still poorly realized at many orchestral locations, but also the professional optimization of one's own body feeling and one's own health prophylaxis already in education at the conservatoires.“ The instrumental game requires like no other profession the whole person with his physical and mental performance. „If one of them is missing, the other and thus the entire profession is impaired. Good health is the prerequisite for the quality of an orchestra“, explains Mertens.

Deficits in health prevention for musicians
According to the DOV investigation, every second German orchestra musician suffers from health complaints. „However, they often only look after themselves when there is no other way - and then they are usually already 40, 50 years old. "The physician also sees the conservatoires as their responsibility, as they rarely offer health services for the In addition, there are only a few places for music medicine, which would be partially canceled.

But there are counterexamples as well: In a model project financed by a statutory health insurance fund, the Saxon State Youth Orchestra will receive medical care from the Center for Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine at the Weimar Clinic. As part of a rehearsal week in Weimar, 90 young musicians will receive medical care and advice. Seidel, head of the Center for Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, and his colleagues correct in many workshops above all the posture of the young musicians. „The shoulder rest for the violin must be higher, otherwise it will cause tension, "he explains to some string players, and many young participants have already become unfamiliar with their posture when playing music, which is why he advises a violinist to relax, but also to undergo therapy. „Otherwise a chronic headache is imminent. "In another workshop, a trombonist receives instructions for gymnastic exercises by two physiotherapists to train the muscles. (Ag)

Image: Dieter Schütz