Performance Health for Saxophonists: Saxophonists Perspectives and Experiences with Playing-Related Health, Wellbeing, Injuries and Education (Cohort Study)

Saxophonists experience a high rate of performance-related injuries and wellbeing concerns, with limited research on player perspectives and lived experience to inform preventive or interventional methods. To address this gap, a cohort study was conducted with 14 saxophonists from around Australia, to gather perspectives and experiences on playing-related pain, injury, health, and wellbeing. A baseline survey and semi-structured interviews were used to gather a range of qualitative and quantitative data to provide a holistic overview of the cohort and their lived experience. Results indicated that the lifetime prevalence of a performance-related musculoskeletal disorder (PRMD) for saxophonists in this cohort was 64%, with a point prevalence of 15%. Performance-related pain or injury was prevalent in the following locations: hands, wrists, forearms, back, shoulders, and embouchure, as is consistent with comparable studies. Prominent themes were identified from qualitative data that covered participants’ lived experience and perspectives of injuries and pain, performance anxiety, and education. This included sub-themes of accessing recovery, physical conditioning, health literacy, and education for music teachers, occupational concerns, health education during tertiary study, and accessing healthcare. Future research that explores the efficacy of methods for health promotion, performance anxiety, injury prevention, and saxophone performance may be useful in addressing concerns and improving the health and wellbeing of saxophonists.