Protecting your Neuromusculoskeletal health as a Musician
Neuromusculoskeletal health deals with the health of your muscles, bones, nerves, tendons, etc. The neuromusculoskeletal system is complex, but each part works together to help you carry our tasks (such as singing or playing an instrument). As such neuromusculoskeletal health is very important to anyone practicing music and is a key element to success as a musician. Here are some ways to stay healthy. Firstly, warm up properly. Which types of warmups you do will depend on what you are doing. Practicing and performing can become physical taxing so be sure to rest properly and heal if you have sustained any injuries. During your warm up and practice you’ll want to be sure to have good posture and form to reduce the risk of injury. While practicing is crucial it is also important to not suddenly increase the amount of time you spend practicing. Our bodies have limits and overdoing it can be hazardous. Keep in mind that your daily activities will impact your neuromusculoskeletal health, so if there are things you should avoid or activities that may be hazardous to your health be aware of them and do your best to minimize any harm that may come to your body. Regular breaks during practice and rehearsal are very important in preventing strain and stress. Staying healthy and taking proper care of yourself mentally and physically plays a huge role in your success as a musician. Just as it is important to invest in your craft it is also important to invest in your wellbeing. Without your body it would be difficult to create music, so always be sure to treat it well, nourish, and care for it. As Anne Wilson Schaef once said “Good health is not something we can buy. However, it can be an extremely valuable savings account.”