Abstract
During recent years increasing numbers of professional musicians and music students have suffered from different types of motor dysfunctions. Not all of them seek medical attention, and those who do often do not receive a correct diagnosis or the illness, or else it is diagnosed too late. In medical schools students are not taught about musicians’ professional illnesses, which may be why it is difficult for doctors to diagnosis them correctly. Studies have shown that between 50 and 90 % of musicians suffer various motor dysfunctions. The purpose of this paper is to describe the most common illnesses attributable specifically to the profession of pianist, but in the general context of the motor apparatus which is essential to all musicians. It is our belief that it is essential for a piano teacher to know about the physiology of the hand – such as the basic muscular-skeletal system, and its organization, functioning and development. It is our hope that exploration of this topic will provide all musicians with knowledge that would serve them as a practical tool if they experience some dysfunction of their motor apparatus.
