The Japanese version of the Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians (MPIIQM-J): Translation, cultural adaptation, and validation in Higher Music Education Institutions

Background Playing-related musculoskeletal disorders are highly prevalent among musicians, yet no validated The aim of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the MPIIQM into Japanese and to examine its psychometric properties in students of higher music education institutions (HMEIs). Methods Forward-backward translation followed ISPOR guidelines, with linguistic validation through pilot testing. Psychometric evaluation was conducted in instrumental music majors enrolled at nine HMEIs in Japan, combining in-person and online surveys. Exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach's , and Pearson correlations with the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), QuickDASH, and QuickDASH Performing Arts Module (PAM) were computed in symptomatic respondents (n = 48). Symptom prevalence in the full HMEIs sample (n = 226) was compared with national data (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan, 2022) using binomial tests with Holm correction. Results Exploratory factor analysis yielded a two-factor structure (pain intensity; pain interference) explaining 76.8% of the variance. Cronbach's was .864 (pain intensity), .890 (pain interference), and .903 (total). The pain intensity subscale correlated strongly with BPI pain severity (r = .71), and the pain interference subscale correlated with the QuickDASH PAM (r = .62). Test-retest reliability could not be computed because only 9 of 30 retest respondents met inclusion criteria. HMEIs students reported significantly higher prevalence than national peers in 25 of 41 symptoms, most markedly stiff shoulders and low back pain. Conclusions The MPIIQM-J demonstrated adequate structural validity, internal consistency, and convergent validity, and is expected to be useful in educational and clinical settings.