Injuries Experienced by Musicians
Dr. Tabby knows that musicians are dedicated to their craft, spending many hours practicing and performing. Sometimes this can lead to strain in the neck, shoulders and back due to poor posture or time spent holding an instrument in one position. Overuse injuries to the wrist and fingers are also common in musicians. Depending on the instrument played, some musicians may also note uneven muscle tone or tension in one limb from playing.
Dr. Tabby offers appointment scheduling with easy to obtain appointments in the case of injury. She encourages all of her patients, but particularly patients such as musicians who may easily aggravate an injury due to repetitive practice and overuse to make an appointment to work on resolving the issue.
Dr. Tabby’s Approach to Care and Experience with Musicians
Dr. Tabby has experience treating string players and pianists, among other musicians. She has also previously served as an “Orchestra Tour Physician,” treating the injuries of the musicians on tour and making sure they were in top shape to perform. Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists like Dr. Tabby help to maintain proper body mechanics and treat injuries, allowing patients to return to their daily functioning. In this case, she works to get musicians back to playing.
Dr. Tabby practices the “art of medicine,” forging strong relationships with her patients built on trust and mutual respect, and pursuing a rigorous diagnostic work-up. She will carefully listen to the patient’s complaint and perform a thorough examination of the affected area, as well as other areas of the body to look for signs of related stress and tension. Her goal is to help musicians get back to playing their instruments, but she also wants to ensure that all problems are addressed to prevent future injuries. Education and corrective measures or exercises may be implemented as part of the treatment plan to prevent future reoccurrences of similar injuries.
Multidisciplinary Treatment Method
Once a diagnosis is made, Dr. Tabby will provide a personalized treatment plan, taking into account the technical demands of playing and will recommend adjustments to practice schedules.
While still protecting the injury and allowing adequate rest, Dr. Tabby will work with musicians to create modifications or exercises that may in some cases allow them to participate in practices or play at a reduced rate. She may coordinate care with other specialists as warranted including orthopedics, physical therapy, or other practitioners.
Often tailored strengthening exercises will be demonstrated and “prescribed”, to aid in the healing process, taping and the use of theraband is also demonstrated. .
She employs a nonnarcotic treatment method rooted in the judicious use of medications, therefore treatments are more likely to center around “hands on” methods such as topical pain relief, massage, heat or ice application and trigger point injections for muscle pain. Active participation of the patient is required to complete recommended therapeutic exercises. Bracing (orthotics) may be employed in combination with any of the above methods to allow for healing and support. She works in a multidisciplinary fashion, coordinating care to return musicians back to playing as quickly as possible, while still allowing for the appropriate healing time and treatment methods aimed at preventing re-injury.