On December 14th I had the honor of being a clinician at the 65th Annual Midwest Clinic in Chicago. I presented a workshop entitled: “Injury Prevention for Musicians”. The turn out was great and the audience had a lot of interest in the topic.
Clinic Synopsis:
Musicians are athletes, yet very little time is devoted during the study of an instrument on how to stay healthy for the duration of a career. With the high prevalence of performing related musculoskeletal disorders among all musicians (some studies report injury rates as high as 88%) this workshop presents multiple strategies to prevent pain and injuries related to playing. Attendees will identify factors that increase the risk of developing an injury. A brief discussion on anatomy will be followed with proper stretching techniques and muscle health considerations. Multiple effective self-treatment and practice strategies will be presented. The mental aspects of injury will be discussed, as well as knowing when and where to seek professional assistance. This workshop provides musicians with hands-on experience preventing injuries and provides tools to foster a long healthy career in music.