Don’t Shrug Off Shoulder Injuries: A Retrospective Cohort Study of the Shoulder Injuries found in Broadway Performers

Background and/or Objectives: Broadway performers face unique physical and mental demands that may increase their risk of musculoskeletal injury. This study aims to examine the incidence and mechanisms of shoulder injuries among Broadway artists with Workman’s Compensation claims, to better understand performance-related risk factors and inform targeted prevention strategies.

Design: Retrospective Study

Setting : private performing arts therapy clinic (2021-2024)

Participants : 11 Broadway performers with Workman’s Compensation shoulder injuries

Interventions: N/A

Main Outcome Measures: Incidence and mechanism of shoulder injuries in Broadway performers

Results: Of the 65 total injuries reported across seven Broadway shows, 11 (16.9%) were shoulder injuries. Show B had the highest incidence with four of the total 11 injuries (36%) involving the shoulder. Show A also had 4 shoulder injuries but a lower incidence (12.5%) due to a higher overall injury count (32). The other shoulder injury cases came from Show D with one shoulder injury out of the two total injuries and Show F with two shoulder injury cases out of 12 total injury cases. The most common cause was choreographed lifts, accounting for all shoulder injuries in Shows A and D. Show B’s three shoulder injuries were not due to this mechanism of injury, but due to repetitive wearing of heavy clothes and holding an arm out for an extended period of time. Show F’s two shoulder injuries were overuse injuries with a non-specific mechanism.

Conclusions: Shoulder injuries found in Broadway performing artists are often due to repetitive lifting of a partner overhead. Each of the shoulder cases within our data were either acute as the lift was performed in practices or during a show or chronic as the lift was performed repetitively over time forming an overuse injury. The main environmental factor affecting shoulder injury has been found to be heavy costumes that can be difficult to maneuver while performing.