ABSTRACT
Musician’s dystonia is the task specific movement disorder which is most severe one amongst instrumental performer disorders. It is also known as musician’s cramp. Musician’s dystonia can be of two types, i.e. embouchure dystonia and focal hand dystonia. In this movement disorder there occurs loss of voluntary motor control and continuous incoordination of muscles while performing the highly trained task specific movements like playing a specific musical instrument. Usually there is no pain in this disorder however it can occur sometimes as a form of strain due to the compensatory use of antagonist muscles for a dystonic movement. In this article, all about Musician’s dystonia and herbal remedies by Planet Ayurveda to manage and treat this condition is discussed well.
INTRODUCTION
Task specific focal dystonia along with several other occupational ailments are commonly found in professional musicians, who are using the particular type of musical instrument for long term. Many cases of focal dystonia are left undiagnosed and untreated as per the estimate by experts. Males are more prone to develop this condition as compared to females and in less than half of the cases, family history of dystonia is also found. In this condition, the mostly used or most active digits of hands are affected, hence the affected digits can differ depending upon their use in playing the instrument. Musician’s dystonia is usually left undiagnosed due to the absence of pain and its intermittent nature. It is also confused with certain tendon pathology or overuse disorder. This condition is considered to arise from the certain changes in the brain that occur while attaining the advanced musical techniques and skills.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
THERE ARE VARIOUS SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS WHICH APPEAR GRADUALLY IN MUSICIAN’S DYSTONIA
- Initially the musician suffers from lapses while performing, which usually is in an instinctive ability of a performer. This condition is most of the time ignored considering it to be lack of preparation or faults in techniques
- Usually the people playing guitar, piano and brass instruments get affected by this condition. The symptoms come up only while playing the instrument otherwise there is no problem in performing any other activity
- People playing piano commonly have the complaints in right hand specifically the fingers
- Person playing guitar gets the symptom in left hand while percussionists and guitarist observe complaints in any of the both hands
- An individual playing brass instrument develop symptoms in the jaw and corners of the mouth while those playing woodwind gets trouble in embouchure or hands
- Usually none of these musicians have any kind of pain
- Inability to play the particular instrument like fingers starts to shake, hands stop moving or freezes or clenching of fingers occur while playing the instrument
CAUSES
Musician’s dystonia is a neurological disorder which acts just like a computer virus which corrupts the whole program; this form of dystonia affects the sensory motor programs in the brain, those contain all the information about playing an instrument.
Basically, musician’s dystonia occurs when abnormal changes are seen in the communication of body parts with the brain via nerves. This results in incoordination between instructions given by the brain and inability of the parts to execute those movements. Generally, this abnormality of coordination between the brain and other body parts remains unknown. However, there are certain triggering factors also like injury to the affected body part, certain infections, stroke, adverse reactions to medication, Parkinson’s disease and carbon monoxide poisoning. Besides this, there can be some instrument related risk factors like practicing too much or prolonged performance time, playing a new instrument, changes in technique, or nerve injury leading to changes.
DIAGNOSIS
Usually the medical history, occupational history and information about the medications you take, can help in suspecting the condition. Many times, musician’s dystonia is incorrectly diagnosed as overuse injury. However MRI, CT scans and electromyography can help in confirming the diagnosis.
TREATMENT
Conventionally musician’s dystonia is considered to be incurable. However certain medications are used to manage the condition like anticholinergics which helps in blocking the transmission of nerves to the affected muscles. But these medicines can result in various side effects and cannot be used for long term.
On the other hand Ayurveda is the natural science or science of life which deals and treats the disease with the help of natural herbs and their formulations along with other natural techniques. These natural therapeutic measures of Ayurveda do not harm the body further in any way even if taken for long term.
HERBAL REMEDIES BY PLANET AYURVEDA
Planet Ayurveda has been indulged in treatment of various acute and chronic diseases which are considered to be incurable in modern medicine. Owing to the fact that the herbal medicines produced here are purely herbal, vegetarian and organic and are free from any chemicals, and other harmful additives. Efficacy and safety is also ensured with these herbal formulations. For Musician’s dystonia, Planet Ayurveda offers a combination of herbal medicines as below
PRODUCTS LIST
- Rumogin 5 capsule
- Yograj guggul
- Vrihat vatchintamani ras
- Boswellia curcumin
- Brahmi capsule
CONCLUSION
Musician’s dystonia can be a great trouble for any musician and its incurable description by conventional system of medicine can make it more worrisome. However, the herbal remedies by Planet Ayurveda can help in managing and treating the condition more effectively.
