Objective: To describe a case of task-specific dystonia.

Background: Musician’s dystonia(MD) is a type of task-specific dystonia that occurs during playing musical instruments. MD may affect the various muscles depending on the instruments; the hands in pianist or violinist, the lower face in pipe musician, the leg in drummer, and so on. Among musician’s dystonia, percussionist dystonia is very rare.

Method: Case report.

Results: A 59-year-old man gradually developed an unusual movement of the left arm while playing the janggu for several months. Janggu is a traditional Korean music instrument that is a double-headed drum with two hands.  To play the janggu, hit both drums with a stick in the right hand and beat the left drum with the left hand.  His job is a baker, but he has been playing the janggu as a hobby for 15 years. Initially, while he played the janggu, his left arm involuntarily bent, making it difficult to play. Gradually, similar symptom occurred not only when playing the janggu, but also when doing other tasks of bending the left arm repeatedly. He had no medical history or medication. Neurological examination showed no abnormalities in muscle strength, sensation, and reflex. When he performed the motion as playing drum, we observed dystonia in the left forearm and wrist. MRI of the brain and cervical spine was normal. He was treated with Botulinum toxin injection, but the effects were partial.

Conclusion: We present a rare case of task-specific dystonia occurred when playing a traditional percussive instrument.

« Back to MDS Virtual Congress 2020

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/case-of-percussionist-dystonia-in-playing-the-janggu-a-traditional-korean-percussive-instrument/