Musician Rehabilitation Program

Playing a musical instrument is not just an art; it is a physical activity that requires precision, endurance, and repetitive movements. STAR Physical Therapy recognizes the strain musicians endure and their unique challenges in maintaining their physical well-being and performance abilities.

Our specialized Musician Rehabilitation Program helps Nashville’s musicians overcome injuries and performance-related issues. At STAR Physical Therapy, we aim to provide individualized education and exercises to prevent injury, help musicians recover from injury or surgery, and return to making music as soon as possible!

Meet Our Expert Team

Our East Nashville clinic has a team of highly experienced physical therapists who specialize and are dedicated to serving and treating musicians. Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) Noelle Austin and Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMT) Sandy Hardwick lead our Musician Rehabilitation Program. Noelle and Sandy understand the unique demands placed on a musician’s body. With their expertise, we create personalized treatment plans to address each musician’s specific needs.

The Conditions We Treat

Musicians commonly suffer from a range of ailments related to their craft. Our specialized therapists are adept at treating and commonly treat the following conditions related to instrument use:

Neck/back strain
Rotator cuff tendonitis/bursitis
Numbness/tingling in arms/hands
Lateral/medial epicondylitis
Trigger finger and DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis
Cubital/carpal tunnel syndrome
Arthritis in the spine/hands

Components of the Musician Rehabilitation Program

Our Musician Rehabilitation Program is comprehensive and designed to address acute injuries and long-term performance issues through a wide range of specialized interventions, including:

We begin with a thorough examination to pinpoint the root cause of any symptoms. This allows us to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to each musician’s needs.

This involves hands-on techniques designed to reduce pain and improve joint mobility. Intervention may include instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), massage techniques, and joint mobilization.

Our certified hand therapist specializes in the evaluation and treatment of hand and upper extremity injuries (non-operative and post-surgery), including those that commonly affect musicians. Specialized treatment may include custom orthoses (splints) and kinesiology taping.

Our team has experience working with musicians who play various instruments, including stringed instruments, woodwinds, and percussion. We understand the unique physical demands of each instrument, will complete a playing assessment, and will provide tailored rehabilitation to help you overcome performance-related injuries.

To avoid injuries and sustain a high level of performance, musicians must maintain optimal playing posture and mechanics. Our team educates you on optimal playing posture, body mechanics, and instrument-specific ergonomics to reduce strain on your body. This will help you avoid future injuries and play your instrument more efficiently.

We offer a wide range of strengthening and functional exercises to help you build strength and endurance and improve flexibility to allow for optimal playing of your instrument. This can help you avoid injuries and improve your overall performance.

We understand that musicians often experience chronic pain due to the repetitive nature of playing an instrument. Our team can provide pain management techniques, including heat and cold therapy, Dry Needling, electrical stimulation, and other non-invasive treatments.

How to Get Started

At STAR Physical Therapy, we are committed to helping musicians prevent and overcome injuries to improve their physical health so they can continue to play their instrument at the highest level. If you’re a musician experiencing pain or performance-related issues, don’t let it hold you back! Contact STAR Physical Therapy today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward a healthier, more fulfilling music career. Let us help you get back to making music pain-free and with confidence!