Musculoskeletal Health Complaints and Associated Risk Factors in Freshmen Music Students.

BACKGROUND: Evidence concerning the development of musculoskeletal health complaints (MHCs) among music students is limited due to inappropriate study designs. We aimed to assess the occurrences of MHCs and associated risk factors in freshmen music students compared to students from other disciplines. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted. Risk factors such as pain-related, physical, and psychosocial variables were measured at baseline. Episodes of MHCs were recorded monthly. RESULTS: A total of 146 music students and 191 students from other disciplines were analyzed. In the cross-sectional comparison, pain-related, physical, and psychosocial variables were significantly altered in music students compared to students from other disciplines. Furthermore, music students with current MHCs differed significantly from music students without current MHCs with respect to physical health, pain, and history of MHCs. Our longitudinal analysis showed that monthly MHCs were higher in music students compared to students from other disciplines. Independent predictors for monthly MHCs in music students were current MHCs and reduced physical function. Predictors for MHCs in students from other disciplines were a history of MHCs and stress. CONCLUSIONS: We provided insight into the development of MHCs and risk factors in music students. This may help in the creation of targeted, evidence-based prevention and rehabilitation.

Impact of an AI app-based exercise program for people with low back pain compared to standard care: A longitudinal cohort-study.

Background: Low Back Pain (LBP) is a common health problem worldwide. In recent years, the use of mobile applications for the treatment of various diseases has increased, due to the Corona pandemic. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted exercise recommendations can reduce pain and pain-related impairments in daily life for patients with LBP, compared to standard care. Methods: To answer the research question, an 8-week app-based exercise program was conducted in the intervention group. To measure the influence of the exercise program, pain development and pain-related impairment in daily life have been evaluated. A so-called rehabilitation sports group served as the control group. The main factors for statistical analysis were factor time and group comparison. For statistical calculations, a mixed analysis of variance for pain development was conducted. A separate check for confounders was made. For pain impairment in daily life nonparametric tests with the mean of change between the time points are conducted. Results: The intervention group showed a reduction in pain development of 1.4 points compared to an increase of 0.1 points in the control group on the numeric rating scale. There is a significant interaction of time and group for pain development. Regarding pain-related impairments in daily life, the intervention group has a reduction of the oswestry disability index scores by 3.8 points compared to an increase of 2.3 in the control group. The biggest differences become apparent 8 weeks after the start of treatment. The significant results have a medium to strong effect. Conclusion: The results shown here suggest that the use of digital AI-based exercise recommendations in patients with LBP leads to pain reduction and a reduction in pain-related impairments in daily living compared to traditional group exercise therapy.

A Physiotherapeutic Approach to Musicians' Health - Data From 614 Patients From a Physiotherapy Clinic for Musicians (INAP/O).

Currently, the treatment of musicians is an interprofessional approach. Playing-related health complaints may impact the performance of a musician. In Germany, a medical consulting hour for musicians exists, but those for athletes in sports medicine are not so common. The diagnosing and treatment procedure within the physiotherapy consultation for musicians follows a specific concept-b and requires knowledge of instruments and musician-specific complaints. Based on the consulting hour in a clinic in Osnabrueck, 614 case reports were part of this sample, of which 558 data sets were complete. The focus of the analysis is the instrument and the primary complaint. Also, the type of therapy is characterized, and the amount is calculated. Primary complaints of musicians, in general, are found most frequently in the spine and upper extremity. Musician complaints are different between instruments. Instrumentalists have a significantly higher chance to suffer from a primary complaint in the area of the upper extremity. Furthermore, the groups without an instrument (e.g., singing or dancing) are developing complaints in the anatomical area which they primarily use. Therefore, these types of therapy were used: physiotherapy, manual therapy, and osteopathy with an average of 5.9 treatment units. This study underpinned the importance of musician-specific physiotherapy as a profession to treat musicians. Also, an interdisciplinary approach is necessary to treat all aspects of complaints.