Luigi Boccherini and the Barocco cello: an 18th century striking case of occupational disease

The aim of this paper is to elaborate an ergonomic model based on the study of acquired muscle‐skeletal lesions related to Boccherini's intensive activity as Barocco cellist. The body of the famous musician was submitted to external examination, macroscopic analysis and radiographic study. Palaeopathological studies of the skeleton showed a considerable number of changes such as severe rhizoarthritis of the right thumb, heavy epicondylitis of the left elbow, loss of physiological cervical and lumbar spine lordosis and high thoracic left scoliosis with maximum on T3‐T4. A case of tibiae valgae was diagnosed at the level of the legs. The acquired muscle‐skeletal lesions found seemed to be correlated to Boccherini's cello activity. Direct observation of a present‐day cellist allowed us to better understand how repetitive strain injuries were responsible for the situation which appears in the ergonomic model described. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.