Subject: Music Related Injuries Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 13:49:32 -0600 My degrees are in Brass and Conducting. As a conductor several years ago, I developed severe pains in my right shoulder. Treatment after treatment offered no relief. I even tried a chiropractor! Soon after I realized that this was not the solution, I sought the help of a sports medicine doctor at the University of Kentucky. Upon asking what I did in my profession, it was clear to him what the source of the pain was: Overuse of the right arm in the art of conducting! The rubbing joint in the shoulder and collarbone had started as an irritation; I kept doing my job, and it developed into an inflammation which arthritis very readily attacked. It had become most painful, as the bones themselves were deteriorating. The very excellent physician and surgeon simply removed the part of the bone that was affected. He said that I would be back to normal very soon. After much therapy (painful, but methodical), full motion and strength came back. As a side note, I love to pitch baseball, and the person with which I always threw pitches remarked, "Well, maybe you should have had this operation before now! You're more accurate now than you have ever been!" So, conducting can lead to shoulder problems, but can sure improve your fast ball in your pitching!