Vol. 4, Issue 4, Part C (2018)

Abstract
Background and Objectives: Tabla is the most famous membranophone percussion instrument used in Indian Classical Music. Musical instrument players, unlike other occupations, commence their careers at early ages. Playing percussion instrument requires coordinated and repetitive striking motion and forces which is a risk factor to development of playing related musculoskeletal pain.1 Few initial weeks of training includes perfecting the common tabla strokes on individual drums followed by tuning both the drum beats and eventually forming the -“Kaida” which is a particular and disciplined manner in which the beats are tuned and played. Left (/non dominant) wrist is a commonly reported location for playing related pain.3 Conditioning refers to augmentation of the energy capacity of a muscle through an exercise program.2Active range of motion exercises, strengthening and stretching exercises are important elements of conditioning program designed to promote pain relief as well as reduce the risk of injuries. A conditioning program for musicians can be applied at early stages of training for effectively managing instrument playing related pain, especially in reducing its frequency and severity. Physical therapy exercises should be considered in modifying performance-related factors that have been reported. 4 This study is determined to study the effects of conditioning physiotherapy exercises on tabla playing related wrist pain in young tabla learners. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial Setting: Instrumental Music Institutes In and Around Pune. Outcome Measures: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation Scale (PRWE). Method: 50 Subjects were selected for the study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, in the sequence of enrolment of the subject, even numbered i.e. half the subjects were categorized as group ‘A’-the experimental group. The other half, odd numbered subjects were categorized as group ‘B’- the control group a pre intervention VAS and PRWE scoring was recorded for both groups. An exercise protocol was administered among the group a subjects prior to routine practice session. This was continued before training for a period of 1 month. Subjective assessment of pain and function post training after 1 month was taken from both groups. Result: There is a significant difference in VAS and PRWE in both, the experimental and control group. However, significance is very strong in the experimental group. The study concludes that physiotherapy exercises are effective in reducing pain and disability in young tabla learners.