Performing Arts Medicine

A subspecialty of medicine that deals with ailments specific to dancers, singers, actors, musicians, and comedians"

Performers, like skilled athletes, rely on physical dexterity and mental acuity to inspire and entertain audiences. These artist experience injuries such as muscular strains, tears, ligament and tendonopathies. These problems range in severity from mild to complete incapacitation and relate to a combination of relatively repetitive movements of a limited number of muscles, and awkward position required to hold the instrument and/or weight of instrument, overuse 'syndromes', nerve impingement and performance anxiety.

If you are a performing artist you know how important it is to be in peak condition physically and psychologically. Even minor injuries and illnesses can affect your ability to perform at your best. Yet you may make minor health problems worse by carrying on practising or going on stage when you shouldn't - and storing up problems for the future. Above all, you want to be sure that any medical practitioner you see will understand your particular needs.