Why Musicians Should Take Advantage of Physical Therapy

Managing Repetitive Stress Injuries in the Pit

When I was playing drums for Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations at the Imperial Theatre, starting in 2019, I took the opportunity to explore as much of Broadway as I could beyond just the music. I was fascinated by the behind-the-scenes mechanics of running a Broadway show, so I spent time talking to the people who made the production come to life every night. I went into the area where the spotlight technicians worked, spoke with stage managers, and learned from the electricians, carpenters, and props masters. I even had conversations with the wig department, the people who washed the costumes, the front-of-house staff running the ticket booth, and the physical therapy team.

One thing that caught my attention was seeing sign-up sheets for physical therapy posted on the call board. At first, I assumed they were only for dancers and actors, but I quickly wondered: Could musicians also receive physical therapy? After all, playing drums for a Broadway musical is incredibly taxing, and it’s easy to develop repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis.