[Harp-L] Subject: Try a Performing Arts Doc to Treat Your Injury (or prevent one)

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Some might find this of interest: (I've put ** next to the pertinent
paragraphs)...

In addition, here's a pdf of The Motions of Wind Instrument Performance (of
 course most instruments are covered except for the harmonica, but one can
extrapolate.
 There are, of course, many musicians here who are  multi-instrumentalists.
Michael Peloquin plays saxophone; I have a cassette tape  of SmoJoe playing
clarinet, trumpet and various saxophones, etc.; Slim  Heilpern, Will
Galison, Gary Lehman, Joe Filisko play harp and  guitar...MadCat plays everything
;)

Elizabeth



_http://www.artsmed.org/WilliamDawson-Motions.pdf_
(http://www.artsmed.org/WilliamDawson-Motions.pdf)

Try a Performing Arts Doc to Treat Your Injury

Performing artists  -- the dancers, actors, singers and
musicians who grace the stage -- devote  their heart, soul
and bodies to their craft. The long hours of practicing,
rehearsing and performing can take a toll, often leading to
injuries.  Enter, stage left, performing arts medicine,
doctors who focus on the  prevention, treatment and
rehabilitation of medical problems associated with  the
performing arts. These physicians have knowledge and
experience  that, in many cases, can help even regular folks
with persistent problems  that may stymie other doctors --
for instance, voice conditions or arcane  foot or hand
problems -- even if the origins aren't quite so glamorous.

"Performers have unique medical problems that require
specialized  care," said Clay Miller, MD, who is a
physiatrist (a doctor specializing in  physical medicine and
rehabilitation) and president of the Performing Arts
Medicine Association (PAMA).

IS THERE A DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE?

How is performing arts medicine different from "regular"
medicine?  Dr. Miller explained that performing arts medical
professionals are focused  on preventing injuries from
happening, as well as rehabilitating injured  performers
back into their art form. Doing so requires an extensive
understanding of the art itself, which is why many
performing arts  health providers are themselves artists.

For instance, dancers tend to  develop hip, knee and spine
injuries as well as range of motion issues -- an  orthopedic
surgeon, rheumatologist, physiatrist or chiropractor who
understands (and appreciates) the complex motions of dance
can treat  dance-related injuries and may also offer a
different perspective to help  others whose injuries
occurred in a different environment. Even if you're  not a
professional dancer you may have injured your knee in dance
class.  "The way you do a particular dance step often
involves a turning-out of the  hip, knee, foot and ankle,"
explained Dr. Miller, who was a professional  dancer. "The
biomechanics of dance must be understood medically and
scientifically in order to help a dancer."

**Singers tend to overstress their vocal cords and or  develop
throat polyps, which can affect the quality of their
voices.  Ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists and internal
medicine physicians who  are familiar with the particular
ailments of singers and the problems  associated with common
medications used to treat throat conditions  (including
antihistamines, for instance, which dry out mucus) are best
suited to help a vocalist, a frequent speaker or even a
schoolteacher  with voice-related medical problems.

**Musicians are  susceptible to developing injuries from
playing their instruments.  Task-specific focal dystonia (a
neurological condition affecting a muscle or  muscles of one
part of the body) of the face (for players of woodwind and
brass instruments) or the hand or forearm (for players of
any kind of  instrument) can be debilitating, explained Dr.
Miller. Neurologists and  physical therapists who understand
the minute, repetitive motions involved  in playing musical
instruments can help treat these problems.

The  PAMA Web site (www.artsmed.org) provides access to a
comprehensive  bibliography of scientific articles, as well
as referrals to individuals who  are associated with the
organization. It can be a way to find extremely  specialized
professionals in a variety of medical fields. "We welcome
anyone to access our Web site and ask for a referral
doctor," said Dr.  Miller.
http://link.dhn.bottomlinesecrets.com/r/VB7WPD/PR5KN/FX0FNG/2OUUV/DWEQN/W1/t
/


Source(s):
Clay Miller, MD is a physiatrist who specializes in
diagnosing and treating the medical problems of performing
artists and  president of the Performing Arts Medicine
Association (PAMA). He is also a  clinical professor in the
department of physical medicine and rehabilitation  at
Boston University Medical School. Dr. Miller was a former
professional dancer with Ballet West and Eglevsky Ballet.
He currently  practices at Sports Medicine North, Peabody,
Massachusetts  (www.sportsmednorth.com).
http://link.dhn.bottomlinesecrets.com/r/VB7WPD/PR5KN/FX0FNG/2OUUV/MSUJ6/W1/t
/

E-mail  this  Article:
http://link.dhn.bottomlinesecrets.com/r/VB7WPD/PR5KN/FX0FNG/2OUUV/XHC22/W1/t
?a=48627


**************We found the real âHotel Californiaâ and the âSeinfeldâ
diner. What will you find? Explore WhereItsAt.com.
(http://www.whereitsat.com/#/music/all-spots/355/47.796964/-66.374711/2/Youve-Found-Where-Its-At?ncid=eml
cntnew00000007)