Musculoskeletal Demands in Violin and Viola Playing: A Literature Review.

Background/aims: Research in music medicine has reported incidence rates of musculoskeletal disorders of approx. 70% in instrumental musicians. String players have the highest risk, with rates of performance-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) of 65% to 88%.

Musculoskeletal Assessments Used in Quantitatively Based Studies About Posture and Movement in High String Players: A Systematic Review.

Objective: The aim of the study was to identify and systematically categorize musculoskeletal assessments used in quantitatively based studies about posture and movement in musicians playing high string instruments (violin, viola) in order to inform further research and help to identify gaps in knowledge.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the databases Cochrane, CINAHL, and PubMed as well as the journal Medical Problems of Performing Artists. Additional studies were searched within the reference lists of relevant articles.