Prevalence and Associated Factors of Temporomandibular Symptom Reporting in Portuguese Professional Orchestral Musicians: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) comprise a heterogeneous group of conditions affecting the temporomandibular joints, masticatory muscles, and related structures, and may influence both quality of life and professional performance. Professional musicians represent an occupational group exposed to combined physical and psychosocial demands that may increase vulnerability to temporomandibular symptoms.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of temporomandibular symptom reporting and its association with socio-demographic and occupational factors, as well as health-related quality of life, among Portuguese professional orchestral musicians.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 271 professional musicians from Portuguese orchestras. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire incorporating the Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI) and the SF-12v2 Health Survey, alongside sociodemographic and occupational variables. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Student's t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed with a significance level of p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Temporomandibular symptoms were identified in 61.6% of participants. Female musicians showed a significantly higher prevalence than males (77.4% vs 48.3%, p < 0.001). Younger musicians (18-29 years) presented the highest prevalence, whereas those aged over 50 years showed the lowest frequency. Part-time employment was associated with increased odds of symptom reporting (OR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.07-4.31). No significant associations were observed with education level, instrument category, or weekly practice time. Musicians reporting temporomandibular symptoms demonstrated significantly lower physical and mental health scores on the SF-12v2 (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Temporomandibular symptoms are highly prevalent among professional orchestral musicians and are associated with demographic and occupational factors, as well as reduced health-related quality of life. These findings highlight the importance of preventive and multidisciplinary approaches addressing the occupational demands of orchestral performance.