Objectives: To evaluate how performing artists (PAs) with chronic pain may differ on measures of substance use compared to non-PA controls.
Methods: 157 participants reporting chronic pain (89 PAs, 68 non-PA controls) completed an online cross-sectional survey. Participants were assessed for self-reported current pain severity using the Brief Pain Inventory Short-Form, opioid misuse risk using the Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain-Revised, opioid withdrawal using the Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale, and symptoms of opioid use disorder (OUD) using a modified version of the DSM-V checklist.
Results: PAs had lower pain severity (p <0.05, t=2.196, df=155) and lower pain interference (p <0.05, t=2.194) than non-PA controls. 24% of PAs and 13% of controls reported using opioids within the past month. Among PAs, the number of days using opioids in the past month was positively associated with hours spent practicing per week (r=0.508, p <0.05). PAs (66%) were more likely to endorse current alcohol use than controls (44.1%, t= -2.136, X2=7.72, p <0.01). Importantly, PAs (19%) were more likely than controls (3%) to endorse symptoms of at least mild OUD (X2(3)=11.3, p <0.01) and higher ratings of opioid misuse risk (t=-2.166, p <0.05). Past month opioid withdrawal was also greater in PAs than controls (t=-2.136, p <0.05), and 5.6% of PAs and 1.5% of controls reported at least one prior incidence incident of opioid overdose in their lifetime (X2 =1.80, NS).
Conclusions: Among persons with chronic pain, PAs may have higher risk for opioid-related consequences, including OUD, and should be screened during health care encounters.
Objective: First and second violinists in orchestras use identical instruments, but the motor patterns used to execute the different notes may vary between the two groups and the biomechanical gestures may influence musculoskeletal complaints. The primary objective of this study was to compare the pain intensity and interference in musical performance of first and second violinists of professional youth chamber orchestras. Second, to investigate the correlation between pain and the musical practice profile in this population.
Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 74 violinists, aged 12 to 17 years, from three professional youth chamber orchestras in Brazil. Participants completed a validated self-administered questionnaire, the Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians-Brazilian version (MPIIQM-Br). Variables related to musical practice profiles were also recorded. Data analysis applied t-tests for independent samples and Pearson's correlation coefficient.
Results: The sample of first violinists (n=39) presented 23 males and 16 females, and the second violinists (n=35) included 23 females and 12 males. The mean age was 13.9 yrs (SD 1.1) and 14.1 yrs (1.0) for the first and second violinist groups, respectively. Most participants (n=66, 89%) reported pain in at least one moment of their career, and 54 (76%) reported pain at the time of data collection. A higher pain prevalence was identified in the right shoulder (37.7%), in 28.2% of the second violinists and 9.4% of the first. The second violinists presented higher scores for most variables related to pain intensity and pain interference in performance (p < 0.05). A correlation was observed between time working at a professional level and the number of affected areas on the body pain map (r=0.30; 95% CI 0.23-0.42) and between the hours of daily practice and the number of affected areas on the body pain map (r=0.39; 95% CI 0.29-0.45).
Conclusion: Second violinists had more complaints of pain and difficulty in playing their instrument compared to the first violinists. The study also found a correlation between the number of body areas with pain complaints and variables linked to the violinists' practice profile.