Controversies surrounding "misuse," "overuse," and "repetition" in musicians.

Abstract

Medical opinion remains divided on the existence of a specific medical entity of nonspecific arm pain produced by repetition. Controversy also exists in the pathophysiology of certain painful, anatomically defined medical conditions in the hand and arm and the role of repetition, cumulative trauma, and microtrauma in the development of these conditions. The flaws in science and the language are examined in this article, as are the results of a survey of Australian music students in comparison with nonmusic students, questioning accepted wisdom on repetitive strain injuries.