Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Pain, Psychosocial Aspects, and Quality of Work Life in Violinists and Violists: A Cross-Sectional Study in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

BACKGROUND

Violinists and violists are prone to musculoskeletal pain due to repetitive movements, sustained postures, and long hours of practice. While performance-related musculoskeletal disorders are well documented internationally, little is known about their prevalence and psychosocial correlates among Brazilian professional musicians.

OBJECTIVES

To (1) describe the prevalence, intensity, and interference of musculoskeletal pain across 12-month, 4-week, and 7-day time frames, together with perceived quality of working life; (2) examine correlations between pain, psychological dis¬tress, and work-related quality of life; and (3) test whether pain severity was independently associated with psychological distress and work-related quality of life in multivariate regression models adjusting for demographic and professional covariates.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 122 musicians from 10 orchestras completed validated questionnaires, including the Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians (MPIIQM-Br), the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the abbreviated Quality of Work Life Questionnaire (QWLQ-bref). Statistical analyses comprised descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, and multivariate linear and logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, and years of professional experience.

RESULTS

Nearly all participants (95.1%) reported having experienced musculoskeletal pain affecting their playing, with the shoulders (44.2%), wrists (36.5%), scapulas (21.2%), and cervical region (21.2%) most affected. Although overall quality of working life was rated satisfactory, 13.1% reported moderate to severe psychological distress, particularly stress symptoms. Higher pain interference was consistently associated with greater psychological distress (b = +0.30, p = 0.013) and lower work-related quality of life (b = -0.28, p = 0.015). Pain intensity alone was not a significant independent predictor when controlling for covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

Musculoskeletal pain is highly prevalent among Brazilian violinists and violists and is closely linked to psychological distress and reduced work-related quality of life. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive strategies addressing both physical and psychosocial aspects of musicians' health.