Dancers and musicians have special medical needs. These artists earn their living through their bodies, and even small decrements of function can be catastrophic. Visual artists have unique occupational medicine exposures that can generate unusual health problems. Fortunately, performing and visual artists also tend to be the best patients - intelligent, with strong focus and able to do the work to heal their bodies.

It is very rare for us to stop an artist from rehearsal or performance as a part of medical treatment. We understand that stopping those activities at critical times in the season may be catastrophic. We know that most performers and artists do not have the luxury of taking time off; no work for any reason means no income! Principles of 'relative rest' and occasionally altering the performance can often be enough to allow performers to get through critical times. These principles are also true for visual artists who have unique occupational medicine exposures that can generate health problems.

Dr. Smigel has had a special interest in performing artists and has completed a fellowship in Performing Arts Medicine in Houston Texas.