scholarly journals Musicians’ medicine – potential health problems among violinists and violists caused by playing the string instrument – the review of the literature

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 273-279
Author(s):  
Gabriela Ręka ◽  
Piotr Machowiec ◽  
Marcela Maksymowicz ◽  
Halina Piecewicz-Szczęsna

Introduction and purpose             Musicians' medicine has received increasing attention recently. It is known that listening to music or playing an instrument has beneficial effects on cognitive and neural functions. Playing the string instrument demands repetitive precise movements of fingers and arms in a non-ergonomic posture that might give rise to health problems. The study aims to present the current state of knowledge regarding different potential health problems among violinists and violists. The article reviews the 24 newest scientific publications available on PubMed and Google Scholar. A brief description of the state of knowledge             The literature review indicated several potential health consequences of excessive playing the violin or viola, as follows: Fiddler's neck and skin allergy, Garrod’s pads, temporomandibular disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, compression of the right ulnar nerve in the ulnar (Guyon's) canal, rotator cuff tendonitis, tenosynovitis, bursitis, focal dystonia, thoracic outlet syndrome, bone asymmetry, pain in the neck, cheeks, fingers, wrist, forearm, shoulder, waist, and the back. Conclusions             Musicians should be aware of potential health problems that occur during prolonged playing the violin or the viola. An important issue is maintaining the accurate proportions between the amount of time spent playing the instrument and resting. The first signs of neurological or musculoskeletal changes should prompt the musician to seek professional medical help to prevent the disorder's progression.

2008 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 443-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Foth ◽  
AW Hayes

Industrial chemicals are needed for chemical synthesis or technical purposes. These beneficial effects are counterbalanced by the potential health risks for all who come into contact with them. The new chemical legislation of the EU, Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) will force the responsibility of manufacturers and importers of chemical substances to gather the right information needed to decide on the right circumstances of use and control of chemical substances and products. In order to understand the roots of REACH, experiences gained with regard to existing chemicals legislation, particularly in Germany, will be reviewed. Since Council Directive 67/548/EEC all chemicals placed on the market need a set of standard information and provisions for safe transportation. This directive and its amendments (Council Directive(s) 79/831/EEC and 92/32/EEC) have established for new substances a sound information data basis for classification of dangerous properties. Under Council Regulation 793/93/EEC, regulations and administrative provisions have established the requirement to assess the risk to man and the environment of existing substances. So far, only 119 substances have been evaluated under the forces of this regulation. This separation has led to a substantial imbalance between existing substances and new substances with respect to available data needed to recognize hazards for health. The register of produced and imported chemical substances under REACH should eliminate some of this separation and will also be the key for selection of substances of very high concern by the authorization process to restrict the use and distribution accordingly.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 12-15
Author(s):  
Jay Blaisdell ◽  
James B. Talmage

Abstract Like the diagnosis-based impairment (DBI) method and the range-of-motion (ROM) method for rating permanent impairment, the approach for rating compression or entrapment neuropathy in the upper extremity (eg, carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS]) is a separate and distinct methodology in the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), Sixth Edition. Rating entrapment neuropathies is similar to the DBI method because the evaluator uses three grade modifiers (ie, test findings, functional history, and physical evaluation findings), but the way these modifiers are applied is different from that in the DBI method. Notably, the evaluator must have valid nerve conduction test results and cannot diagnose or rate nerve entrapment or compression without them; postoperative nerve conduction studies are not necessary for impairment rating purposes. The AMA Guides, Sixth Edition, uses criteria that match those established by the Normative Data Task Force and endorsed by the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM); evaluators should be aware of updated definitions of normal from AANEM. It is possible that some patients may be diagnosed with carpal or cubital tunnel syndrome for treatment but will not qualify for that diagnosis for impairment rating; evaluating physicians must be familiar with electrodiagnostic test results to interpret them and determine if they confirm to the criteria for conduction delay, conduction block, or axon loss; if this is not the case, the evaluator may use the DBI method with the diagnosis of nonspecific pain.


Author(s):  
Jung Won Kim ◽  
Insun Won Park ◽  
Youngjoon Won Lee ◽  
Yu Chang Kim ◽  
Pilja Chang Kim ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-130
Author(s):  
R. R. Palekha ◽  

Introduction. Right understanding is the most live, interesting and, at the same time, the uncertain and changeable area of researches which takes the central place as in the general theory of the right, and gains the increasing value in industry jurisprudence that is connected with its considerable teoretiko-methodological and applied potential which is shown in spheres of lawmaking and law-enforcement activity. Thus, right understanding represents research tools of the subject of knowledge which allow to study all range legal and, the based on them, state phenomena for the purpose of obtaining reliable knowledge of state and legal reality. In this regard integrative approach in right understanding which has rich history of the formation and development is of special interest, allows to perceive the right as integrally complete phenomenon, as much as possible retrieves its regulatory abilities and, provides achievement of criteria of scientific research: comprehensiveness, objectivity, historicism. Materials and Methods. In article an attempt of the analysis of integrative approach in right understanding from a position of history of origin of his ideas and assessment of the current state is made. A result of studying of scientific literature, generalization and comparison of the different points of view fat formulation of author’s determination of category “right understanding” and submission of the evidence-based integrative theory of right understanding which as much as possible conforms to requirements of time and has essential regulatory and guarding potential. Results. In article the category right understanding is comprehensively considered, different integrative theories of right understanding from a position of their origin and development are submitted, the value of modern integrative approach in right understanding is shown, perspectives of its further development are evaluated. Discussion and Conclusion. The author comes to the conclusion about the theoretical and methodological consistency and inevitability of the integrative approach in law understanding, which acts as a scientifically grounded type of legal thinking capable of comprehending the law on a truly scientific basis.


Author(s):  
Mary Kay Gugerty ◽  
Dean Karlan

This case explores two common challenges facing organizations around the world: how to collect the right amount of data, and how to credibly use outcome data collected during program monitoring. Health promoters at Un Kilo de Ayuda (UKA) in Mexico use regularly collected health data on more than 50,000 children to structure their work, track their progress, and identify at-risk children in time to treat health problems. In this case, readers will assess the tradeoffs between actionability and responsibility that UKA faces in determining how much data to collect. They will also examine the challenges of monitoring data on a program’s outcomes instead of outputs, particularly when it comes to asserting a program’s impact on those outcomes. Finally, readers will propose ways to generate credible data on one of the organization’s programs when plans for an impact evaluation fall through.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Shawky Ammar ◽  
Mohamed Ahmed El Tabl ◽  
Dalia Salah Saif

Abstract Background Various surgical options are used for the treatment of ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow. In this study, anterior trans-muscular transposition of the ulnar nerve was used for the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome. Objectives To evaluate the surgical results of anterior trans-muscular transposition technique for the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome with particular emphasis on clinical outcome. Methods Forty patients with cubital tunnel syndrome were operated using anterior trans-muscular transposition technique. Patients were classified into post-operative clinical outcome grades according to the Wilson & Krout criteria, and they were followed up by visual analog scale (VAS), the Disability of Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, electrophysiological study, and post-operative clinical evaluation. Results Forty patients with cubital tunnel syndrome who underwent anterior trans-muscular transposition of the ulnar nerve show a significant clinical improvement at 24 months post-surgery regarding visual analog scale (VAS), the Disability of Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, electrophysiological study, and the Wilson & Krout grading as 87.5% of the patients recorded excellent and good outcome. Conclusion Anterior transmuscular transposition of the ulnar nerve is a safe and effective treatment for ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow.


Author(s):  
Jiyune Yi ◽  
Seul Gee Kim ◽  
Taegyu Khil ◽  
Minja Shin ◽  
Jin-Hee You ◽  
...  

We developed two distinct forest therapy programs (FTPs) and compared their effects on dementia prevention and related health problems for older adults. One was focused on Qigong practice in the forest (QP) and the other involved active walking in the forest (WP). Both FTPs consisted of twelve 2-h sessions over six weeks and were conducted in an urban forest. We obtained data from 25, 18, and 26 participants aged 65 years or above for the QP, WP, and control groups, respectively. Neuropsychological scores via cognition (MoCA), geriatric depression (GDS) and quality of life (EQ-5D), and electrophysiological variables (electroencephalography, bioimpedance, and heart rate variability) were measured. We analyzed the intervention effects with a generalized linear model. Compared to the control group, the WP group showed benefits in terms of neurocognition (increases in the MoCA score, and alpha and beta band power values in the electroencephalogram), sympathetic nervous activity, and bioimpedance in the lower body. On the other hand, the QP group showed alleviated depression and an increased bioimpedance phase angle in the upper body. In conclusion, both active walking and Qigong in the forest were shown to have distinctive neuropsychological and electrophysiological benefits, and both had beneficial effects in terms of preventing dementia and relieving related health problems for elderly individuals.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 332
Author(s):  
Luca Fania ◽  
Francesca Sampogna ◽  
Francesco Ricci ◽  
Mariafrancesca Hyeraci ◽  
Andrea Paradisi ◽  
...  

Background: Systemic photoprotection (i.e., administration of substances such as nicotinamide, carotenoids, and vitamin D) may be important to reduce photocarcinogenesis or to support long-term protection against UV irradiation. Clinical trials showed that oral nicotinamide is effective in reducing the onset of new nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs), while other oral photoprotectors failed to achieve the reduction of new melanoma or NMSC formation in humans. The aim of this study was to summarize the current state of knowledge of systemic photoprotection and to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of dermatologists regarding these treatments. Methods: The survey was conducted on a sample of dermatologists recruited according to a snowball sampling procedure. The questionnaire consisted of a first part asking for characteristics of the participant and a second part with 12 specific questions on their knowledge about systemic photoprotection, particularly their knowledge of astaxanthin, β-carotene, nicotinamide, and vitamin D3. Results: One hundred eight dermatologists answered the survey. Most of them (85.2%) stated that oral photoprotectors have a role in the prevention of skin cancer, and responses mainly mentioned nicotinamide. More than half of them (54.6%) had prescribed all the considered oral photoprotectors, but the majority of them had prescribed nicotinamide, mainly for 2 to 3 months during summer, almost invariably (n = 106) associated with topical photoprotectors. Most dermatologists (>80%) were aware of scientific publications demonstrating an effect of systemic photoprotectors on NMSC. Conclusions: Most Italian dermatologists have positive views on oral photoprotection in skin cancer and are aware of the demonstrated potential of nicotinamide in the prevention of NMSCs.


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