Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39344421›Full record

ArticleJournal of oral rehabilitation2025

Prevalence of Painful Temporomandibular Disorder Symptoms Among Professional and Student Musicians: An Online Survey.

Suzanne Z'Graggen, Dominik A Ettlin, Elena Alessandri, Werner J Z'Graggen, Martin Schimmel

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of oral rehabilitation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Suzanne Z'GraggenSchool of Music, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Lucerne, Switzerland.
Dominik A EttlinDepartment of Reconstructive Dentistry and Gerodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Elena AlessandriSchool of Music, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Lucerne, Switzerland.
Werner J Z'GraggenDepartment of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Martin SchimmelDepartment of Reconstructive Dentistry and Gerodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9700-5534

Funding

University of Bern
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWithin the fields of medicine and music, increasing attention is given to evidence indicating music performance being an occupational risk factor for temporo-mandibular disorders (TMD).

objectivesAssessment of self-reported painful TMD symptoms among student and professional musicians.

methodsUsing Survey Monkey software, the German version of the 'TMD-Pain-Screener' was distributed electronically to professional and student musicians in Europe. Supplementary questions addressed age, gender, daily playtime, instrument type and type of professional practice. Results are presented as median [interquartile range].

resultsThe TMD-pain-screener was completed by 492 participants. Among them, 96 (19.5%) reported painful TMD (Pain_pos) and 396 did not experience pain (80.5%, Pain_neg). Pain_pos participants were significantly younger (Pain_pos: 34 years [26; 46], Pain_neg: 44 years [30; 56], p = 0.0003), had less work experience (Pain_pos: 15.5 years [6; 25], Pain_neg: 20 years [10; 32], p = 0.009), had fewer performances/year (Pain_pos: 20/year [10; 45], Pain_neg: 30/year [12; 53.5], p = 0.03) and were predominantly female (OR = 3.22 [1.87, 5.74], p < 0.0001). Comparisons among music performance types revealed no statistical significance in the overall test (p = 0.13), although 'keyboard' (OR = 2.99 [0.58, 30.12]), 'upper string' (OR = 2.31 [0.43, 23.63]) and 'singer' (OR = 2.14 [0.44, 20.75]) stood out compared to the reference group 'lower string' (OR 1.00). Organ players formed the largest group and showed a comparatively low prevalence of Pain_pos (16%), compared to other keyboard instruments (Pain_pos 30.2%).

conclusionsPrevalence of TMD pain was highest among young inexperienced female musicians. Playing keyboard instruments (other than organ) or upper strings instruments were frequently associated with painful TMD screening. An improved understanding of causes, implementation of preventive measures, professional guidance and a biopsychosocial health care perspective may decrease this occupational risk while maintaining the health benefits of music.

Indexed as

MusicOccupational DiseasesStudentsTemporomandibular Joint DisordersAdultEuropeFacial PainFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementPrevalenceRisk FactorsSelf ReportSurveys and Questionnairesmusicmusical performancemusiciansmusic instrumentssurveytemporomandibular disordersTMD pain screener

Identifiers

PMID39344421
PMCPMC11680494

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.