Digital health self-management interventions for musicians with playing-related musculoskeletal disorders: A scoping review

Eleryan, Noudy, Hemming, Rebecca ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8708-5638, Sparkes, Valerie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4500-9327 and Sheeran, Liba ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1502-764X 2025. Digital health self-management interventions for musicians with playing-related musculoskeletal disorders: A scoping review. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice 80 , 103408. 10.1016/j.msksp.2025.103408

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Abstract

Introduction Playing-related musculoskeletal disorders are common in musicians. Self-management interventions are recommended to improve the management of musculoskeletal disorders and support individuals to safely take responsibility for their own health. Digital health interventions are increasingly used to support self-management of musculoskeletal disorders. However, their use in musicians remains poorly understood. Aim The aim of this scoping review is to map the available evidence on digital health interventions for the self-management of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders in musicians. This includes summarising the key characteristics of current interventions including content, mode of delivery and theoretical underpinning, their effect on musicians’ ability to continue to play, and exploring any reported adverse effects, to inform future interventions. Methods The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review framework and was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Results Nine studies were included. None of the interventions were underpinned by a theoretical framework. All interventions targeted student and orchestral musicians, involving exercise, health education, or both, and were delivered via pre-recorded videos (n = 4), websites (n = 3), and video conferencing (n = 2). Six interventions were home-based, one was conducted at a university, and two included a combination of home-based and workplace sessions. Exercise-based digital health interventions (n = 7) reported improvements in pain and physical outcomes. Conclusion The evidence on digital health interventions for musicians is limited, with studies targeting student and orchestral musicians and none applying theoretical frameworks. This highlights the need for broader and more rigorous self-management interventions for PRMSDs in musicians.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Healthcare Sciences
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
ISSN:	2468-8630
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	12 September 2025
Date of Acceptance:	5 September 2025
Last Modified:	15 Sep 2025 10:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/181052

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