The creative world, especially that of music, has long been associated with bad diets, late nights, and excessive amounts of alcohol and drugs. This association dates back to roughly the same time as musicians have been creating and playing music. Though unhealthy habits make for entertaining television, they can be terrible for a musician’s physique and lead to musician injury.
The negative habits you develop now could prevent you from becoming your best or altogether halt you in your tracks if you intend to make and perform music for the rest of your life. It’s not attractive, but being a better musician will result from learning how to take care of yourself.
Physical Health
Everyone in music has ambition. Although this is a fantastic attribute, you shouldn’t overuse it. It is impossible to study all of Bach’s or Mozart’s compositions in your first week as a novice. You won’t succeed and will just harm yourself in the process. Whether you’re singing or playing an instrument, it’s crucial to gradually expand your time.
Daily practice is important, but always remember to move slowly and just accept your physical limitations. You must provide your body enough time to adjust. As you gain strength and muscle over time, you’ll be able to gradually increase the length and intensity of your practice sessions. You can also take therapy for musicians in order to speed up the process of strengthening your muscles.
Also, remember that maintaining your mental health is just as vital for your physical health as it is for the former. Too much singing or playing without adequate rest will eventually kill your creativity. Remember that listening to music is something you should enjoy; it’s not a chore.
Vocal Health
A healthy voice results when the vocal apparatus is working to its full potential (Hughes, 2002). The voice is produced as a result of the interplay of a number of different elements of the body. (Benninger & Abitbal, 2006) The breath energy, the larynx, the resonating tract, the articulators, and the mind are the five components that make up the vocal mechanism (Hughes, 2014). When a person breathes in, the air is sent to the lungs, which function as an activator that causes the vocal folds to vibrate. It is a versatile technique that can be used for both speaking and singing, and it demonstrates a strong mastery of the motions of the vocal folds. In addition, the tone and style of the voice are determined by the resonator, which consists of the pharynx, oral, and nasal cavities (Benninger & Abitbal, 2006). In addition, voice care practices are able to address these concerns. Each component has an essential role in preventing harm and protecting against injury. The information that is presented here includes helpful strategies for taking care of the voice.
To know about some other injuries musicians are prone to and the strategies to avoid them, check this blog.
Develop some good routines to keep yourself in top shape.
- Always be sure to stay hydrated, especially when you’re working out.
- If you consume beverages containing caffeine or alcohol, you should drink a lot of water to counteract the effects of these substances.
- Rest your voice periodically during the day by giving it vocal naps.
- Put a humidifier to good use inside your house. This is of utmost significance during the winter months and in arid climates. It is advised that the humidity be at thirty percent.
- Steer clear of or cut back on the usage of any drugs. This includes certain over-the-counter cold and allergy treatments. If you are having any physical issues, you should consult your physician about which drugs are appropriate for you to use.
In order to keep a healthy lifestyle and nutrition, you should:
- Don’t smoke and stay away from others who are smoking around you. The vocal folds get irritated when exposed to smoke. Additionally, smokers have a much-increased risk of developing cancer of the vocal folds.
- Steer clear of consuming anything too hot. Spicy meals have been shown to trigger heartburn and GERD by forcing acid from the stomach back up into the esophagus and throat.
- Make sure that the majority of your daily intake consists of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. These foods have vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin C.
- Always be sure to wash your hands to protect yourself from catching a cold or the flu.
- Get a good amount of sleep. When a person is physically exhausted, it shows in their voice.
- Exercise frequently. Stamina and muscular tone are both improved by exercise. This assists in providing appropriate posture as well as adequate breathing, all of which are important for proper speech.
- Talk to your primary care physician about making dietary adjustments or using medicines that might help lessen the frequency and severity of flare-ups if you suffer from persistent heartburn or GERD.
- Gargles and mouthwashes that include alcohol or substances that are irritating should be avoided.
- Mouthwash should not be used as a treatment for persistent foul breath. The condition known as halitosis, often known as foul breath, might be caused by a condition that cannot be remedied by using mouthwash. These conditions include low-grade infections in the nose, sinuses, tonsils, gums, or lungs, as well as gastric acid reflux from the stomach.
Final Words
While working with your precious instruments, you should keep in mind that your most valuable instrument is your body which must be taken care of properly if you really want to keep playing. Therefore, it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and structure your workload properly in order to prevent yourself from a total burn-out or a severe injury.
Physical therapy sessions are also just as important. Or you can also opt for hand therapy for musicians. For this purpose, without feeling bad for yourself you can consult a professional therapist like Heather from Healing Hands Therapy center who is a certified occupational therapist and can provide you with specialized treatment to help you deal with your injuries or even avoid them altogether. Visit the website to book your session today!
