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Musicians with Focal Dystonia: A Report of 58 Cases Seen during a Ten-year Period at a Performing Arts Medicine Clinic

 
 

Copyright 2024, Mark Alan Wade

Primary Author: Brandfonbrener, A.
Journal Title: Medical Problems of Performing Artists
Date Published: Dec-95
Language: English
Category: Nervous Disorders
Key Words: musician focal dystonia performance instrumental
Full Citation: Brandfonbrener, Alice G. Musicians with Focal Dystonia: A Report of 58 Cases Seen during a Ten-year Period at a Performing Arts Medicine Clinic. Medical Problems of Performing Artists 10, no. 4 (December 1995): 121-127.
Full Abstract: Instrumentalists were diagnosed as having focal dystonias over a ten-year period in a performing arts medicine clinic. The data for all patients are shown in tabular form, and the implications of the data are discussed. The patients, male and female, consisted of woodwind, keyboard, string, brass, and percussion players. Eleven wind and brass players' dystonias affected the muscles of the embouchure; the other 47 patients' dystonias affected the muscles of one or more fingers of one hand. The vast majority of these musicians were professionals, and many carried the extra responsibility of teaching appointments. Of particular interest were eight patients who noticed the onset of dystonia after attempting to make dramatic technique changes. However, although these eight patients and many others reported contributory factors or precipitating events for their dystonias, 19 could report no such precipitating event.