Four main reasons that violinists get hurt

A fascinating paper by researchers in Berlin and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) details four main causes of injury in violinists and several lesser ones. Here‘s a sample:

Owing to the instrument’s architecture and playing method, there are pathologies that may arise for at least four distinct reasons: first, the places on the body on which contact is established or pressure is exerted by the placement of the instrument (neck, clavicle, jaw, and temporomandibular joint) or the strain of playing it (shoulder, elbow, and hand). Second, allergens that may be present in the body of the instrument, the bow, or the rosin; third, increased sound exposure over extended periods, and finally, practice conditions that lend themselves to poor physical and mental hygiene (eg, chairs, lighting, extended workload with insufficient breaks, fear of failure, excessive expectations with pressure from teachers, conductors or oneself)….

Read on here.