 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: alanporter
Date: 2012-11-25 01:02
I am a clarinetist not oboeist, but I love listening to the oboe. Having attended many oboe concerts and watched even more utube performances, it seems that the players have to blow really hard and I am wondering about the back-pressure on their lungs. Are oboeists more prone to developing emphysema ? Please note that I am not trying to worry any players, just medically curious. Thanks.
Alan
tiaroa@shaw.ca
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2012-11-25 08:37
If you refer to the development of purely physical ailments, then probably not. 
J.
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Author: JRC
Date: 2012-11-25 13:51
Mostly in the head about the reeds.
Just make sure to breath right and try to make music, you will be fine.
What is breathing right? Your blowing pressure should come from your lower abdomen.
What is trying to make music? Acker Bilk have been making beautiful music for several decades. Make your own music with your own sound.
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2012-11-25 18:05
If anything I think playing the Oboe develops lung capacity. I can stay under water on one breath for a really long time!
I did some glassing blowing and I saw the other participants really having trouble blowing out the molten glass. so when I doing my piece I blew hard ... I blew up the molten glass ball!
Mark
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Author: alanporter
Date: 2012-11-25 20:54
Well Mark........emphysema is known colloquially as "glass blowers lung" !
Alan
tiaroa@shaw.ca
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2012-11-26 00:03
Emphysema, like asthma, is a respiratory disease that affects one's ability to breathe OUT. As long as you learn to breathe properly, playing the oboe would only be of help to this condition, and would not CAUSE it.
--mary, RN
GoodWinds
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Author: plclemo
Date: 2012-11-26 02:33
I have normal pressure hydrocephalus (diagnosed at age 27 and shunted then and then 12 times afterwards) Last shunt replacement was this summer. If I don't breathe right I get a REALLY REALLY REALLY BAD headache. Other than that I have had no problems while playing my oboe. I also play clarinet - same breathing issues arise.
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Author: ptarmiganfeather
Date: 2012-11-26 06:28
I have noticed that my shoulders ache more since I've picked up the oboe again. On my part any emphysema would be blamed on being a former smoker, not on oboe.
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Author: Oboelips
Date: 2012-11-26 20:33
I'm a severe asthmatic. Playing my oboe daily is my physical therapy (I don't have to use any 'lung exercisers like the ones where you blow the balls up the tube). When taking an extensive pulmonary function test with a new doctor years ago, the Dr. came back in with the results and said "You are one of these 3 things: A professional Singer; A Wind Player; or a Scuba Diver--which one are you?" I replied to the affirmative to "Wind Player", and specified oboe...and he said "no wonder you nearly blew the machine off the wall"...
:)
I do play hard reeds with shorter tips, so I utilize quite a bit of PSI. At my annual eye exam, my opthamalogist checks the pressure (retinal?) because of my being an oboist.
Health wise, I know that the oboe does me more good than harm.
Deb
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Author: huboboe
Date: 2012-12-10 03:04
Just the same one you risk, from hanging the weight of the instrument off my thumb for 50 years. I've trashed the joint where my thumb meets my hand and can't support the instrument that way any more.
If you're planning a long career, use some sort of support...
Robert Hubbard
WestwindDoubleReed.com
1-888-579-6020
bob@westwinddoublereed.com
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Author: MudLily
Date: 2013-05-13 17:41
I have a condition called neurally mediated syncope. Basically, my body does not always keep my blood pressure high enough to maintain proper blood flow to the brain. One of the triggering phenomena is, unfortunately, playing my oboe. Oboe and trumpet playing are basically modified valsalva maneuvers, and people with NMS have low blood pressure in response. Lots of fun. Playing didn't cause it, but it makes things more difficult.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2013-05-14 07:30
Yes, I actually measured air pressure in my mouth while playing the oboe, clarinet, flute, and saxophone using a tube in my mouth to a sensitive pressure meter.
While your results might be different, I found that the oboe required about one psi, the clarinet and saxophone about one half a psi, while the flute was about a fifth or sixth of a psi.
Many oboe players get hernias and I have had one on each side of my abdomen, both operated on and corrected by adding a plastic mesh about 4 or 5 inches on a side. While I feel the first one seemed to be related to oboe playing, the second one appeared the morning after a wonderful evening of playing the alto saxophone. Many trumpet players I know also have had hernia operations and my main oboe teacher had two operations.
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Author: darryoboe
Date: 2013-05-14 14:38
I do as well, from a bout with meningitis. I've never experienced any headaches from oboe playing though.
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