Effects of Music on Health: The Plight of the Piper

Abstract

Music, an important tool of social and cultural value, has found relevance in healthcare and is being harnessed for therapeutic purposes. However, the art of producing music with musical instruments, has potential health benefits and hazards, which are often ignored. In this article, we review literature, and expound on the effects of playing wind instruments on the health of the player. Some authors have documented superior lung function and a lower risk of obstructive sleep apnea amongst wind instrumentalists. However, the list of health hazards associated with playing wind instruments exceed the potential benefits, with myriad cases of adverse events documented following wind instrument playing. Many of these adverse events are as a result of increased pressures (intra-thoracic, intra-abdominal, intra-ocular, intra-cranial etc.), especially with high resistance instruments, when delivering high pitches and volumes. It is recommended that wind instrument players be aware of the potential health benefits and risks associated with playing their instruments, avoid prolonged playing, ensure adequate rest intervals between playing, and avail themselves of regular (at least annual) medical fitness checks, with special attention paid to their otolaryngologic, cardiovascular, respiratory and ocular health.

Keywords

• music
• health
• wind instrumentalists
• wind instruments