Association of arm position and playing time with prevalence of Complaints of the Arm, Neck, and/or Shoulder (CANS) in amateur musicians: A cross-sectional pilot study among university students

OBJECTIVE: In addition to known risk factors for musculoskeletal complaints in the general population, playing a musical instrument is an additional risk factor. In this pilot study, the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints in student amateur musicians and their relation with playing posture and playing time were evaluated. METHODS: A cross-sectional web-based survey among amateur musicians studying at a Dutch university. RESULTS: 162 amateur musicians were included in this pilot study (response rate 17.6%). 46.9% of these amateur musicians played with an elevated arm position. Presence of complaints of the arm, neck and/or shoulder (CANS) was not statistically significantly related to arm position, except for complaints in the left shoulder with an elevated left arm position compared to neutral left arm position (OR 6.7, CI 95% 2.2-20.8) The number of hours playing per week did not significantly contribute to CANS (OR 1.0, CI 95% 0.95- 1.17). CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study among student amateur musicians, the occurrence of CANS was not significantly related to arm position, except for musicians playing with an elevated left arm position, which was associated with complaints of the left shoulder (OR 6.7). The number of hours playing per week did not significantly contribute to CANS in this group of musicians.