Affiliations: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Applied
Sciences, Lausanne, Switzerland
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Amélie Zosso, 9, rue des
Forgerons, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland. Tel.: +41 79 712 41 83; E-mail: a_zosso@bluewin.ch
Abstract: Musicians are artists who use the entire body when playing their
instruments. Since over-practicing may lead to physical problems, musicians
might encounter focal dystonia, a hand's motor disorder. The cause seems to be
the brain's confusion between afferent and efferent information transfer
provoking a disharmony with the instrument. Although focal dystonia may have
serious consequences for a musician's career, it is unclear how musicians
perceive this trouble. This case study describes two musicians with focal
dystonia. Qualitative research was used to study their social representations
of health and illness. The results show the central role of the hand during
music playing, the passion for music and the understanding for focal dystonia
as "brain panic". Therapists should account for those specific features
inherent to this population in order to better help them in their quest for art
through music. Giving a voice to musicians may improve their quality of care.
