Australia’s orchestral musicians are suffering for their art, according to new research.
Psychologists found that 84% of a group of 377 musicians surveyed had experienced physical pain severe enough to impair their performance.
Researchers examined members of Australia’s eight state orchestras and found there was a strong relationship between the severity of performance-related pain and anxiety.
Those reporting more severe pain also reported higher performance anxiety.
The findings imply that physically based treatments of performance-related musculoskeletal pain that do not address associated anxiety and depression might not prove to be effective.
Read more at University of Sydney