Title : Neurophenomenology in retraining musicians with task-specific focal dystonia: Three cases
Abstract:
Musicians experience a high rate of playing-related pain and injury due to the rigorous nature of repetitive mind-body training, specifically musculoskeletal disorders (PRMD), performance anxiety (PA), and task-specific neurological disorder (TSND). TSND is the least understood by the performing artists. Neurophysiological evidence has demonstrated that extensive training and excessive practice can yield maladaptive changes in certain neural networks, leading to task-specific focal dystonia. Mindfulness training with biomechanical pedagogy has shown promise in modifying the neurological behavior pattern.
Purpose: In this presentation, we share retraining coaching session details of three professional task-specific focal dystonic musicians. We use neurophenomenological first- and second-person method to frame our mindfulness & mind-body integrative rehabilitation process.
Approach: We experimented with mindfulness meditation in mind-body coaching with three professional musicians, who developed task-specific focal dystonia at the height of their careers. The sessions consist of deep breathing, in-the-moment focus, mental imagery, anatomical and proprioceptive awareness, and deliberate slow playing.
Results: Musicians showed progress in rehabilitation after a few sessions, however, we did not test long-term effects. Sustained and permanent behavioral change will require an extended period of second-person neurophenomenological retraining to increase awareness and proprioception.
Conclusion: Gradual retraining process of mindfulness mind-body experience-based neurophenomenological process is an appropriate model to teach our non-dystonic pre-professional collegiate musicians in a hurried and quantity-oriented modern environment. A third-person external feedback device and brain image monitoring can add to the efficacy of the neurophenomenology.
