Abstract
Objectives: This study investigated whether vocalists report a higher prevalence of two types of TMDs (viz., TMD pain and temporomandibular joint sounds) compared with instrumentalists who do not load their masticatory system while performing. In addition, we examined which risk indicators are associated with the presence of these TMDs among musicians.
Methods: A total of 1470 musicians from 50 different music ensembles completed a questionnaire. Of these musicians, 306 were vocalists (mean age ± SD 37.5 ± 17.7 years; 63.9% female) and 209 musicians enrolled the control group (mean age ± SD 42.7 ± 18.0 years; 40.7% female). Results: The prevalence of self-reported TMD pain among vocalists was 21.9%, as compared to 12.0% in the control group. 20.0% of the vocalists reported TMJ sounds versus 15.1% of the controls. The multiple regression models indicated that being a vocalist was not a risk indicator for the presence of self-reported TMD pain nor for self-reported TMJ sounds. Instead, it appeared that the report of TMD pain among musicians was positively associated with female gender, next to the level of physical workload, depicted as frequency of oral behaviours and the hours of daily practice. Musicians’ report of TMJ sounds was associated with oral behaviours.
Conclusion: This study shows that singing is not associated with the reports of TMD pain and TMJ sounds, after adjusting for potentially confounding variables included in the models.
| Original language | English |
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| Pages (from-to) | 1127-1132 |
| Journal | Journal of Oral Rehabilitation |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2019 |
Funding
This study was conducted among adult (>18 years) musicians of several music ensembles (symphony orchestras, chamber music ensembles, brass bands, fanfares, and choirs) of different levels of professionalism (from amateur to professional) throughout The Netherlands. Music ensembles were contacted by e‐mail or telephone and were asked whether they would like to participate. Between December 2013 and June 2016, a total of 90 music ensembles (including 15 choirs) were approached to participate in this study. After permission was granted by the chairman, human relations manager, or the conductor of the ensemble to perform the study, each musician that was present received an information letter during one of the rehearsals with details about the survey and a questionnaire. An additional verbal explanation about the project and questionnaire was given to the musicians as well. Participants were asked for written informed consent before completing the questionnaire. This study was considered by the Medical Ethics Review Committee (METc) of the Vrije Universiteit (VU) Medical Centre not to fall under the provisions of the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act, and medical ethical approval was granted (reference number 2014.074).
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | 2014.074 |