Exposure to musculoskeletal risk of piano teachers

Abstract

Music professionals usually suffer from Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD). However, there is a bad culture regarding ergonomic risk. Musicians are a professional group subject to the most varied ergonomic risks, from instrument design to the time it takes to perfect their work. This paper aims to understand and evaluate the ergonomic risk in a group of professional musicians, mainly of pianists working at a Portuguese conservatory of music. For the investigation, it was applied a modified Nordic Questionnaire and RULA method. The body regions with higher prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints during the last 12 months were the neck (80%) follow by the lower back (40%). The results from the application of RULA indicate that an ergonomic intervention is needed.