• Ana Zão, Eckart Altenmüller, and Luís Azevedo.
• Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
• Pain Med. 2024 Sep 1; 25 (9): 568576568-576.

ObjectiveTo evaluate prevalence of performance-related pain among musicians and compare pain characteristics, associated disability and approach to pain management, between music students and professional musicians.MethodsA multicenter cross-sectional study was performed in a multi-stage stratified cluster random sample of 585 musicians, stratified by music students (294, among which 234 were at pre-university level and 60 at university level) and professional musicians (291). The main outcome was performance-related pain, measured by Performance-related Pain among Musicians Questionnaire (PPAM). Secondary outcomes were: pain management approach, physical activity levels, fatigue, distress, and health-related quality of life.ResultsThe lifetime prevalence of performance-related pain was 55.0% (n = 322), being significantly higher among professionals (57.5% vs 42.5%, P < .001). Pain intensity scores were significantly higher in professional musicians (P < .05), but pain interference in performance was higher among music students, who also reported significantly higher levels of fatigue (P = .008) and distress (P < .001), and lower quality of life (P < .001). Regardless of the high levels of pain intensity and interference, fatigue, anxiety and depression, and low levels of quality of life, 33% musicians who developed pain had never looked for healthcare (this proportion is significantly higher for music students, 57%, P < .001).ConclusionsWe present the first multicenter study on performance-related pain among musicians with different backgrounds, using a validated tool, and distinguishing music students from professional musicians. Performance-related pain is a highly prevalent and disabling condition among musicians, however, its proper evaluation and management are still often underappreciated, contributing to significant impairments and reduced quality of life.© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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