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Athletes and musicians share many commonalities. That may be difficult to believe if you are spending hours every day sitting and playing an instrument, but the reality is that musicians are athletes of small muscles. The physical and mental energy and coordination required to perform any instrument to a high level is extremely high.
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Unlike athletes, however, musicians usually don’t have the same level of access to support specialists and are often reluctant to seek help. Playing through pain is also sometimes seen by musicians as a badge of honor and indicative of a hardworking successful performer, whereas in reality, they may be significantly shortening their careers.
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For athletes, working with physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, hydro therapists, nutritionists, and sports psychologists is an accepted part of professional development, whereas, for musicians, it is often an afterthought, geared towards treating problems rather than for prevention. The reality is, although the tide is gradually turning, musicians usually only seek help when they are in crisis, when they are in considerable pain, or when they cannot play or perform as usual.
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Therefore, seeking ongoing support for the physical and psychological demands of playing a musical instrument is an essential part of being an active musician. Prevention of performance-related health problems including focal dystonia is an important part of increasing career longevity.
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