Musicians' Injuries: Discover The Chiropractic Advantage (Avoid
Repetitive Strain Injury For Good!)
Ouch! Does it seem like every note you play on your guitar or
musical instrument results in pain? Maybe it's a nagging ache in
your neck and shoulder. Perhaps you've had long rehearsals for
that important gig or recital, and now you notice severe pain
and loss of strength in your elbow and wrist. Or maybe you are
trying to cope with hands that are increasingly numb and clumsy.
Well it's all part of being a serious musician, right? You've
got to keep practicing - too much depends on it! Sound familiar?
Guitarists and instrumental musicians are a special risk group
for repetitive strain injuries, with sizable percentages of them
developing physical problems directly related to playing their
instruments. In fact, "RSI" or repetitive strain injury in
musicians was around centuries before the term was recently
coined for computer injuries. Incorrect posture, overuse,
stress, insufficient rest, excessive force and incorrect
ergonomic technique all contribute to chronic pain and injuries
that spell the end to careers. For many musicians, repetitive
movement injuries are more feared than stage fright or an
unresponsive audience. If they are also heavy computer users (my
category of experience!), their risks are further compounded.
Doctors and therapists have long known that musicians are
notoriously hard to convince that playing should be reduced or
stopped to allow time for injuries to heal. Many guitarists and
musicians are afraid to find out they might have a severe
injury, and much prefer the head-in-sand approach of ignoring
the pain and pushing on. This is a disastrous policy for a
musician - if it hurts, it should be checked out!
As a systems accountant consulting to small business, I spend
most hours of my working day in front of a computer. Not
surprisingly, this has resulted in several serious repetitive
motion injuries over the years. In similar fashion to the
approach of many guitarists and musicians, I spent a long time
trying to "ignore the pain and push on". It is only in recent
years that I have discovered the optimum program for managing
the injuries and avoiding future repeats, with regular
chiropractic care well and truly established at number one on my
list of priorities.
WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC?
Meaning "done by hand", chiropractic is a method of restoring
good health through adjustments of the spine. The basic
chiropractic premise is that the spine and nervous system
control the body completely. Any interference to nerve function
by spine misalignments can therefore result in poor organ
function, resulting in any number of seemingly unrelated
diseases and ailments. Chiropractors generally subscribe to the
theory that technically, they don't 'cure' anybody, but simply
help the body to heal itself.
In the past, chiropractors traditionally had trouble gaining the
respect of medical doctors. Although basic philosophical
differences between medicine and chiropractic still exist,
chiropractic care is now considered mainstream and is routinely
recommended by members of the medical profession.
WHAT TREATMENT DO CHIROPRACTORS GIVE?
Ever wondered what happens at the chiropractor? Perhaps you've
heard they're just "bonecrackers, not doctors!". Not so.
In the US and many other countries, the educational program for
chiropractors includes training in the basic medical sciences,
including anatomy with human dissection, physiology, and
biochemistry. Thorough training is also obtained in differential
diagnosis, radiology and therapeutic techniques. This means, a
doctor of chiropractic can both diagnose and treat patients.
(This separates them from non-physician status providers, like
physical therapists.)
As with all healthcare practitioners, chiropractors follow a
standard routine to secure the information needed for diagnosis
and treatment. When the source of pain involves musculoskeletal
structures, chiropractors manually manipulate or adjust the
spinal column. This typically requires the chiropractor to bend
and twist the patient into various positions, which may cause
some patients (myself included!) to tense up. Other more gentle
methods, such as the activator method, deliver a high-speed,
gentle, thrust to the vertebrae via a small rubber tip.
Atlas orthogonal chiropractors focus on the atlas bone (the
first bone that the spinal cord passes through). Using x-rays
and precision measuring equipment, the atlas bone is gently
realigned without using manipulation techniques. I can
personally vouch for this chiropractic specialty, which worked
like magic on the most recent and severe of my repetitive neck
injuries.
Many chiropractors also use water, light, massage, ultrasound,
electric, and heat therapy and may apply supports such as
straps, taping and braces. They may also counsel patients about
wellness concepts such as nutrition, exercise, lifestyle
changes, and stress management, but do not prescribe drugs or
perform surgery. Some chiropractors also specialise in
orthopedics, sports and musician injuries, neurology, nutrition,
internal disorders, and/or diagnostic imaging.
HOW CAN MUSICIANS BENEFIT FROM CHIROPRACTIC CARE?
The benefits of chiropractic care for guitarists and musicians
are widespread and numerous. Chiropractors can help with relief
of specific pain being experienced at the moment, or as part of
an overall wellness program, which also includes exercise,
proper nutrition and rest. Many musicians understand that the
position they assume while playing stresses their body, and are
seeking to offset this stress and prevent further problems from
developing.
Chiropractors evaluate and analyse the spine with an
understanding of physics and how gravity and distorted postures
can stress areas of the spine, ribs, neck, shoulders and hips.
Specific adjustments are used to offset these distortions.
Chiropractors who specialise in helping musicians repetitive
injury problems usually examine the musician patient and the
instrument together. By thoroughly analysing their patient's
posture, movement patterns and range of motion with the
instrument, the chiropractor can detect areas of dysfunction in
and around the spine. They also make recommendations as to what
guitarists can do, both while playing and before and after
playing, to keep the stress from returning. They teach their
musician clients exercises to offset the repetitive stress
placed on certain joints while playing a particular instrument.
Chiropractic care is reportedly simple, yet it is profound in
its ability to help the body regain and maintain its health. Bob
Birch, Elton John's bass player and background vocalist said his
chiropractor showed him pictures and told him "muscle stuff"
that no other doctors ever did. Certain things that he had wrong
with him, like the extensive pain in the left shoulder blade
that shot up the side of his head (which other doctors
pooh-poohed) were explained and put right with chiropractic
adjustments.
Make no mistake about it, regular chiropractic care for
guitarists and musicians is the way to go. If you play an
instrument and want to avoid repetitive strain injuries for
good, go find a musician-friendly chiropractor now!. Scores of
famous musicians agree with me!