The meaning of XXXX to classical musicians.

@entity1 @entity85 @entity158
In creating and performing music, musicians can experience health problems from the high physical and psychological demands of their profession. @entity85 related to playing are @entity158 , chronic and disabling conditions which are prevalent among classical musicians. The widespread study of the prevalence, etiology, and management of @entity85 ( @entity85 ) is a recent development known as performing arts medicine. Despite the rapid development of this new field, it is unclear how musicians identify themselves as injured, and how they make decisions about what, if anything, to do about these disabling injuries. The aims of our study were two-fold. First, we aimed to provide musicians with the opportunity to define a PRMD in their own words. Second, we sought to understand the subjective meaning of the PRMD experience to musicians. Two key informants identified 30 study @entity1 in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. As a form of data triangulation, @entity1 included 27 musicians and three health professionals. Data were collected in semi-structured interviews which lasted, on average, 40 min. Data were transcribed, and were manually coded and analyzed. @entity1 defined a PRMD as @entity158 and other symptoms which are chronic, are beyond their control, and which interfere with their ability to play their instrument at their usual level. @entity1 distinguished between "normal", mild everyday aches and @entity158 , and a PRMD. Although a PRMD is not a medically serious or life-threatening illness, it is devastating to musicians physically, emotionally, socially, and financially. The overall theme of suffering captures the meaning of these problems which threaten the identity of the musician. The findings of this study are consistent with other studies of the experience of work-related @entity85 , and other illnesses.
