Medical Problems of Performing Artists
Medical Problems of Performing Artists is the first clinical medical journal devoted to the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of medical and psychological disorders related to the performing arts. Original peer-reviewed research papers cover topics including neurologic disorders, musculoskeletal conditions, voice and hearing disorders, anxieties, stress, substance abuse, and other health issues related to actors, dancers, singers, musicians, and other performers.
Editor-Dance: Shaw Bronner, PT, PhD, OCS
Editor-Music: Nancy N. Byl, PT, MPH, PhD
Editor-Music: Eckart Altenmüller, MD
Table of Contents
JUNE 2025, Vol 40, No 2
ARTICLES
Music Majors’ Exercise Behavior and Motivations Relative to Other College Majors
Jason Ruggieri, Jacob J. Levy
A comparative approach was used to determine, relative to a broader college student population, 1) the differences in music majors’ exercise behaviors and 2) motivation to engage in regular exercise. Participants consisted of 115 non-music and 99 music college majors. Music majors reported engaging in significantly less global (work and leisure) physical activity, leisure physical activity, and moderate intensity exercise. There were no significant differences between music and non-music majors’ weekly exercise frequency and engagement in light- and strenuous-intensity exercise.
Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Dance Functional Outcome Survey for Turkish Dancers (DFOS-TR)
Demet Tekin, Ani Agopyan, Şule Okur Dündar, Shaw Bronner
In dance, injuries are significant factors that can bring an active dance career to an end. A patient-reported outcomes questionnaire with established validity and reliability is useful for determining and evaluating the functional status of dancers before or after injuries. However, no valid and reliable survey is available in Turkish to assess dancers’ functionality levels. The objective of this study was to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the characteristics of the Turkish version of the Dance Functional Outcome Survey (DFOS-TR) in adult dancers.
Quantification of Auditory-Motor Coordination as a Potential Return-to-Dance Criterion After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Case Report
Akito Miura, Shiori Ito, Takahide Etani, Masahiro Okano, Takuma Hoshiba, Mai Katakura
For dancers who undergo anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, it is crucial to establish criteria for safely returning to dance without risking reinjury. Given the specific demands of dance, this case study aims to quantify the ability to coordinate knee movements with sounds and to analyze kinematics during the rehabilitation period. A female recreational street dancer participated in this study while undergoing rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction surgery.
About MPPA
Medical Problems of Performing Artists is a peer-reviewed medical journal that provides a worldwide forum for professionals involved in practice and research related to performing arts medicine. Issued quarterly, it publishes information about the origin and nature, management, and rehabilitation of medical problems affecting musicians, dancers, vocalists, actors, and others, including anxiety, musculoskeletal injuries and overuse, finger and hand problems, voice and hearing problems, stress, eating disorders, and neuromuscular disorders.
Beginning with Volume 35 (2020), MPPA is published online-only (e-journal).
Editor-Dance: Shaw Bronner, PT, PhD, OCS
Alvin Ailey and ADAM Center, New York, NYEditor-Music: Nancy N. Byl, PT, MPH, PhD
University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Editor-Music: Eckart Altenmüller, MD
Institut für Musikphysiologie und Musiker-Medizin, Hannover, Germany
History: Medical Problems of Performing Artists began publishing in March 1986. It was begun by Alice Brandfonbrener, MD, who was approached by the publisher Hanley & Belfus to become its first Editor (MPPA 1995;10(4):113; MPPA 2005;20(2):63). Dr. Brandfonbrener was one of the pioneers of performing arts medicine, and in the 1980s she began organizing a conference of similar-minded physicians and researchers meeting at the Aspen Music Festival in Aspen, Colorado (MPPA 2002;12(4):147). In her first editorial in MPPA in March 1986, Dr. Branfonbrener explained the goals of the new journal: “The purpose of Medical Problems of Performing Artists is to promote interest in the medical problems of performing artists, to help in the search for and dissemination of information, and by these means to promote the well-being of this vulnerable and valuable segment of our society” (MPPA 1986;1(1):1). She went on to serve as Editor of the journal for 20 years.
Over the following years, and following Dr. Brandfonbrener’s direction, the journal has helped to build awareness of the medical and health conditions affecting musicians, dancers, vocalists, actors, and other performing artists, as well as to inspire scientific research into their origins and treatment.
MPPA was selected for indexing by Medline/PubMed beginning in 2010. Since 2002, the journal has been published by Science & Medicine, who as owner and publisher of the journal, are committed to preserving the vision of Alice Brandfonbrener and promoting the well-being of performing artists.
Indexing:
The journal contents is listed and indexed in:
MEDLINE/PubMed
PsycInfo
Google Scholar
Current Contents/Arts & Humanities
ISI/BIOMED
Excerpta Medica/EMBASE
CINAHL
International Index to Music Periodicals
Music Index
RILM (Répertoire Internationale de Littérature Musicale) Abstracts of Music Literature
Submitting Articles
MPPA is pleased to consider original research studies, case reports, systematic review articles, and letters to the editor for possible publication.