Our April 2012 Newsletter is now available to download in pdf format here:
Archive for the ‘Publications’ Category
Patrice Berque wins Movement Research Award
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012
Physiotherapist and former professional horn player, Patrice Berque, has been awarded the Susanne Klein-Vogelbach Special Award 2011 for his paper, A combination of constraint-induced therapy and motor control retraining and motor control retraining in the treatment of focal hand dystonia in musicians (Medical Problems of Performing Artists, vol.25:149-161).
The prize is awarded to researchers in neuroscience, orthopaedics, and anatomy whose work is oriented to a better understanding of the underlying principles of human movement and its rehabilitation, with the Special Award being granted to excellent papers from the field of physiotherapy. Movement in this context is not restricted to locomotion, rather it covers all kinds of muscular-induced human movement including mime and music. This is only the third time the Special Award has been given (it was previously won in 2004 and 2010).
Medical practitioners involved in research may be interested in applying for the award in future years. There are 2 prizes: the Main Award, endowed with (Swiss Francs) CHF 10,000 and the Special Award, endowed with CHF 2,000. The submission deadline for this year’s prize is 30 September 2012. Click here for more detailed information (Word doc).
Research Report 2009 – 2011
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011BAPAM’s mission is to achieve a healthy performance environment for all performing artists through high quality and effective specialist health care, health promotion strategies, and professional development and training in Performing Arts Medicine for health care practitioners.
BAPAM Trustee, Dr Deborah Charnock, has been responsible for helping BAPAM develop a programme of evaluation and research to underpin this mission.
This report summarises evaluation and research activities and outcomes at BAPAM since the establishment of the Service Evaluation and Research Advisory Group (SERAG). The outcomes have informed several recommendations relating to governance, operations and future research which are outlined in the report. A draft research work programme for 2011-13 is also included.
Download the report:
Requests for further information relating to this report should be directed to Dr Deborah Charnock via deborah@bapam.org.uk
Playing(Less)Hurt: Free Seminar
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
Want free advice on injury prevention and hearing protection from a world class musician?
Janet Horvath, the associate principal cello of the Minnesota Orchestra, author of the book, Playing (Less) Hurt -An Injury Prevention Guide for Musicians, and long time member of the Performing Arts Medical Association, contacted BAPAM to tell us about her imminent Playing(Less)Hurt seminar.
The Minnesota Orchestra is performing at the Proms and while in London, Janet will be giving one of her seminars on injury prevention and hearing protection.
The workshop will take place at the Westminster Reference Library of the Performing Arts on Friday August 27th, 2:00 to 4:00 pm, 35 St Martins St. London WC2H 7HP (Leicester Square Tube).
The seminar is pertinent to all instrumentalists in any genre and at any level, and the teachers and health professionals who work with them.
The talk is free and open to the public. For more information please see Janet Horvath’s website.
Ten Top Health Tips for Musicians
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010Want to know how to help keep yourself healthy whether studying, rehearsing for a gig, or performing?
These tips are taken from the BAPAM factsheet, Don’t cramp your style – Warm-up exercises for performers, also available as an A2 poster or pocket-sized concertina version. To order printed versions have a look at our Health Resources page, where you’ll also find a lot more useful information for all performing artists. All our factsheets are produced with financial support from the Musicians Benevolent Fund.
Ten Top Health Tips for Musicians:
1. Don’t suddenly increase the time you spend rehearsing or studying (maximum 10-minute increase per day). You should increase by ten minutes each day for three days and keep at this level for the rest of the week.
2. Leave more difficult passages and pieces for towards the middle of your practice session, when your muscles are ready and not yet tired out. Increase the speed, difficulty and intensity of the pieces you are playing as you progress though the session.
3. Don’t become obsessed with repeating a passage or gesture that you can’t quite get right. Look for alternatives.
4. Take a five-minute break every half-hour.
5. If your muscles feel overloaded, do some stretching.
6. Do as much as you can to optimise your working environment: think about lighting, noise levels, temperature. Make sure your daily routine – eating, sleeping, exercise – works for you.
7. Don’t play at the time of day when you’re most tired.
8. NEVER play if you are experiencing pain. If you feel any pain, stop playing and do some gentle stretching. If such pain does not go away or if it reappears in subsequent sessions, see a specialist in Performing Arts Medicine.
9. Do exercises to stretch your muscles before playing and whenever you feel like or need it.
10. Make sure you find time for warming up and stretching. You know you will enjoy it and it will make you feel great!
Performing Arts Medicine and Focal Hand Dystonia: Articles by Katherine Butler
Monday, August 9th, 2010Katherine Butler is a Clinical Specialist in Hand Therapy and a trained musician. She has worked with many performing artists with upper limb problems.
Articles authored or co-authored by Katherine Butler can be found on the publications page of her practice website and include, Injury Prevention for Musicians and Focal Hand Dystonia Affecting Musicians (an area in which she is currently performing doctoral research with Dr Karin Rosenkranz).
The Biology of Musical Performance
Monday, November 2nd, 2009Written by Alan Watson, who teaches the course on music biology at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (see below), The Biology of Musical Performance and Performance-Related Injury is now available, published by The Scarecrow Press.
Alan is Senior Lecturer in Anatomy and Neuroscience in the School of Bioscience at Cardiff University. He is a regular speaker at BAPAM training events.
The Biology of Musical Performance and Performance-Related Injury
Safeguarding Children and Young People
Monday, November 2nd, 2009BAPAM does not see any patients under the age of 12. Patients aged 12 to 17 are regarded in law as ‘children’. We have adopted a new policy which ensures we meet current child protection requirements. The policy document can be viewed or downloaded from our Clinical Governance page.
