Musicians Listen to Renowned Houston Orthopedic Specialist Dr. Evan Collins at Conference on Common Overuse Conditions Affecting Artists & Athletes Alike
The Hand, Wrist and Elbow Specialist of Houston Methodist Hospital Spoke to Professional Artists Recently at Rice University – Providing Insight and New Perspective
HOUSTON – Known orthopedic specialist Dr. Evan Collins of Houston Methodist Hospital’s Center for Orthopaedic Surgery sees both professional athletes and artists alike for some of the same overuse conditions of the hand, wrist and elbow, which he discussed recently at a conference at Rice University on behalf of the Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM).
A Weill Cornell assistant professor and former Chief of the Hand & Upper Extremity Department at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Collins has worked extensively on long-term treatment for conditions affecting the small bones and joints of the hand and wrist – his research featured at medical conferences around the world.
The presentation, Performing Artists as Athletes: A New Perspective, revealed the high percentage of orchestral musicians each year requiring time to recover from such overuse conditions as Overuse Syndrome, Repetitive Stress, Chronic Fatigue Syndromes, Myofascial Pain, Bursitis and Tendonitis – all of which are classified as Playing-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PRMD).
According to Dr. Collins, there is a 35 percent prevalence of recurrence following treatment and much more needs to be done to establish effective long-term treatment for these conditions affecting professionals returning to the same activities prompting the problem. He further explained that traditional scientific dogma establishes treatment plans with the assumption that the activity will not be resumed, though this is not the case with professional musicians or the professional athlete.
“We need to really commit to these professionals, who are counting on returning to their career – a career that we know predisposes them to these overstress, overuse conditions. More extensive research and unconventional thinking is helping us establish unique treatment plans,” said Collins.
“We have also begun establishing both preventative and post operative rehabilitative exercise programs specific to our professional artists. By strengthening all aspects of the limb most used in their profession, we’re able to reduce their risk for a recurring overuse condition,” Collins added.
Dr. Collins is a member of the Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM) and part of the Methodist orthopedic team serving as the official healthcare provider of the Houston Texans and Houston Dynamo. He is featured among H Texas Magazine’s Super Docs and internationally renowned for his research and less invasive treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome and other tendinopathies. Dr. Collins is a member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons the American Medical Association, the Texas Society of Sports Medicine, the Texas Orthopaedic Association, and the Houston Orthopaedic Society.
To learn more about Dr. Collins and the latest advances in the field of hand and upper extremity conditions and treatment log onto www.drevancollins.com.