BAPAM: Medicine thought for performance artists

As a musician, you may notice that, some times, parts of your body do not respond as quickly as they used to when delivering your music. If you are a singer, you may find that your vocal range has changed or diminished. As a violinist, you may experience pain in your neck and shoulders. Drummers may be familiar with stiffness and soreness on the knees and shins. Every instrument comes with particular challenges to the body and mind that can take a toll.

In Millicent's case, there was a moment when playing the piano brought her difficulties in her hands. She experienced pain on her fingers, and the knuckle joints would cramp or lock. At the time, she got an e-mail from the Musicians' Union, saying that a doctor specialised in musicians' ailments would visit Birmingham soon, and that members could book an appointment if needed. That's how she got in contact with the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM).

The professionals at BAPAM corrected the diagnosis given by Millicent's GP and redirected her to the treatment that she needed. They have done the same for many creatives in the performance arts, regardless of whether they are hobbyst, part time or full time artists. Their mission is very important, and requires many resources. 

BAPAM estimates that 75% of all performing artists will suffer from physical or mental health issues related to their profession. For a happier, healthier industry, and as a way to secure a safety net in case you experience problems in the future, we invite you to support BAPAM in the way you can. All the information is in their website, which you can visit clicking here.