When we think of people who depend on their bodies to perform, athletes usually come to mind. But musicians are athletes in their own way.
A musician spends countless hours practicing highly repetitive, precise movements. Guitarists, pianists, drummers, violinists, and other performers rely on coordination between their hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, neck, and back. Just like an athlete, even a relatively small injury can have a major impact on performance.
When Your Body Is Part of Your Instrument
An injured athlete may have difficulty running, throwing, or competing. An injured musician can face the same problem—except their livelihood may depend on being able to play night after night.
Musicians commonly experience problems involving the:
* Hands and fingers
* Wrists and forearms
* Elbows
* Shoulders
* Neck and upper back
* Lower back
Repetitive movements, prolonged postures, carrying equipment, extensive practice sessions, travel, and the physical demands of performing can all contribute.
A Musician I’ll Never Forget
Years ago, I had the opportunity to treat a country musician who was approaching what could potentially be his big break.
There was one major problem: he had injured his left hand and arm, and playing guitar had become painful.
For a guitarist, that’s not a minor inconvenience. Your hands and arms are essential to your craft. When playing hurts, it can threaten not only an upcoming performance but potentially your career.
We used a combination of chiropractic care and acupuncture to address the musculoskeletal issues contributing to his symptoms and help restore comfortable movement and function.
Fortunately, he improved and was able to get back to performing.
I obviously can’t mention his name, but I can tell you how the story ended:
He got the contract. And today, he’s a mainstream country artist. 😃
It’s been incredibly rewarding to watch his success over the years and to know that I had the opportunity to play a small role in helping him when his body wasn’t cooperating at a particularly important point in his career.
Musicians Need Their Bodies, Too
You don’t have to be a professional musician to understand the frustration of an injury interfering with something you love.
Whether you’re playing guitar on a major stage, performing with a local band, playing in an orchestra, or simply picking up an instrument at home, pain can change the way you play. You may compensate, alter your technique, practice less, or eventually stop playing altogether.
Chiropractic care can help address joint and musculoskeletal dysfunction, while acupuncture may be useful as part of a broader approach to managing pain and muscle tension. Treatment should always be tailored to the individual musician and the underlying cause of the problem.
Musicians spend years developing their craft and taking care of their instruments.
Sometimes the most important instrument to take care of is the musician. 🎸
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