The potential relevance of altered muscle activity and fatigue in the development of performance-related musculoskeletal injuries in high string musicians

Background: Muscle fatigue has been reported as a risk factor for the development of performance-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMD) in musicians. However, little research exists to support this claim. The aim of this study was to investigate whether changes occur in muscle activity patterns during high string performance over a prolonged playing period, and whether this is influenced by PRMD. Methods: High string musicians were divided into a PRMD and a non-PRMD group. They played a chromatic scale pre and post and a self-chosen “hard” (Borg scale 16-17) piece of music for one hour. Electromyography data recorded from arm, shoulder and trunk muscles was analyzed: the amplitude to measure muscle activity characteristics and the lower frequency to measure muscle fatigue. Differences between and within groups and the frequency spectrum were analyzed using linear mixed models. Results: Fifteen musicians participated (7 PRMD: 22.8 years, 2 male/5 female and 8 non-PRMD: 34.3 years, 2 male/6 female). Changes in muscle activation patterns were observed between and within both groups, however changes varied significantly depending on group affiliation. Significant low frequency spectrum changes between groups were observed in overall muscles of the right arm (p=0.04) and left forearm flexors (p=0.05) following one hour of playing. Conclusions: Muscle activity and frequency spectrum shifts differ in high string musicians with and without PRMD, suggesting possible differential muscle fatigue effects between the groups

The relationship of muscle activity, contact pressure on the mouthpiece and volume level when playing the trombone - an exploratory cross-sectional study

Rationale Playing the trombone can lead to playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMD). Previous research suggests that professional trombonists predominantly struggle with PRMD on the left body side. An increasing volume leads to an increasing contact pressure on the mouthpiece of the trombone, but it is still unclear how the muscle activity relates to this and whether it differs in musicians with PRMD from those without PRMD. Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the activity of different muscles of the left body side, the contact pressure on the mouthpiece and the volume level in healthy trombonists. Methods Six male healthy tenor trombonists were included in this study and run through a standardized protocol which consisted of playing a b-flat major scale with three different volume levels (pianissimo, mezzoforte, fortissimo). Analyzed parameters were (1) the activity of several muscles of the left body side (measured with surface electromyography), (2) the contact pressure on the mouthpiece (measured with a force sensor) and (3) the different volume levels. Results Analysis of variance reveals significant differences of the muscle activity for the three volume levels. Depending on the volume level and the selected muscle, results show very weak to moderate correlations between contact pressure on the mouthpiece and muscle activity (Spearman´s rho between .11 and .58). The strongest correlation across all muscles occurs during fortissimo playing. Conclusions These results show a relationship in healthy trombonists between volume level, contact pressure on the mouthpiece and muscle activity when playing a b-flat major scale. Future research should include trombonists with PRMD to enable comparison between PRMD and non-PRMD musicians. Educational Objectives: At the end of the presentation, the participants will be able to… 1. understand the relationship between muscle activity, contact pressure on the mouthpiece and volume when playing the trombone 2. recognize that there are different muscle activity patterns on the left body side when playing the trombone 3. understand that a comprehensive functional diagnosis is important in the management of musician

Risk factors and lower limb injuries of dancers – an explorative pilot study

Rationale: Dance as an intense kind of performance is associated with high loads on the musculoskeletal system. In particular, the lower limb is exposed to these high loads, which is reported by a high prevalence. Most dancers are affected by injuries during their careers, most in the lower limb. Typical risk factors for dancers include the compensatory turnout, hypermobility, and core stability. The correlation between these factors and lower limb injuries is not fully understood. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between lower limb injuries and the risk factors compensated turnout, hypermobility and core stability. Based on these results, hypotheses can be generated for further studies. Methods: This explorative pilot study was conducted at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences. All eligible participants were scheduled for a single research appointment if they fulfilled the inclusion criteria of dance experience (ballet, modern, contemporary or jazz) at least one year with dance lessons of at least 5 hours per week. Parameters for the correlation analysis were (1) core stability, measured by the motor control tests battery proposed by Luomajoki, (2) hypermobility, measured by the Beighton Score (3) compensated turnout, measured by the difference between functional turnout and external rotation of both hips, (4) dance hours per week, (5) dance experience in years, (6) professional dance experience in years and (7) dance style (ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz). These parameters were correlated with the numbers of lower limb injuries. Significance level was set at 90% because of the explorative character of the study with the purpose to generate hypotheses. Results: Sixteen female dancers with different levels of dance experience (mean 11.3 years) and dance lessons per week (mean 17.6 hours) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and participated in this study. Significant correlations with the numbers of lower limb injuries were found at core stability (rs=0.489, p=0.034, medium effect), dance hours per week (rs=0.459, p=0.048, medium effect) and professional dance experience in years (rs=0.396, p=0.093, medium effect). Two dance styles (modern dance: rs=0.388, p=0.101 and contemporary dance: rs=0.385, p=0.104) were close to the significance level. Conclusions: These results show correlations between core stability, dance hours per week, professional dance experience in years and lower limb injuries in dancers. Due to the limitations of a small and heterogeneous sample size as well as the medium effects, these results should be interpreted with caution, but may provide a basis for further research to this topic in the field of dance research and can be helpful in generating research hypotheses

Apparative Bewegungsanalyse für die klinische Beurteilung von spielbedingten muskuloskelettalen Erkrankungen bei hohen und tiefen Streichern

Hintergrund: Instrumentalisten leiden häufig unter spielbedingten (neuro-) muskuloskelettalen Erkrankungen. Diese zeigen sich bei Streichern, wie Violinisten, Bratschisten und Cellisten, am häufigsten in Form von Beschwerden im Oberkörper – insbesondere im Schulter-Nacken-Bereich. Die apparative Bewegungsanalyse hat sich bereits als hilfreich bei der Beurteilung von muskuloskelettalen Erkrankungen und schädlichen Bewegungsmustern erwiesen und wird für die Diagnostik bei funktionellen Störungen empfohlen. Es wurde bereits gezeigt, dass die apparative biomechanische Bewegungsanalyse ein valides und klinisch praktikables Werkzeug für die genaue und objektive Untersuchung von Bewegungen bei Streichern ist, jedoch ist ihr Einsatz in der klinischen Konsultation immer noch sehr unüblich. Aus diesem Grund existiert ein Mangel an gut etablierten Bewegungsanalyse-Protokollen zur Untersuchung funktioneller Störungen bei Streichern unter Einsatz biomechanischer Instrumente in einem klinischen Umfeld wie der Physiotherapie. Ziel ist es daher, die Entwicklung und Anwendung eines solchen Protokolls vorzustellen für die Beurteilung der funktionellen Spielbewegungen des Oberkörpers bei sowohl hohen als auch tiefen Streichern in einem physiotherapeutischen Umfeld. Methode: Zunächst wurden auf Basis einer klinischen Fragestellung relevante Symptombereiche und Messparameter bestimmt. Anschließend wurden beteiligte Segmente, Gelenke und Muskeln selektiert. Darauf basierend wurde ein umfassendes (mechanisches) Modell des Oberkörpers sowie die dazugehörigen Koordinatensysteme und Rotationssequenzen definiert. Dies lenkte sowohl die Spezifikation eines speziell angefertigten Marker-Sets sowie fortgeschrittener Ansätze wie zur funktionellen Bestimmung von Gelenkzentren und -achsen, als auch die Auswahl und Platzierung von Oberflächenelektroden. Schließlich wurden Aktivitäten zur Kalibrierung und Untersuchung der Bewegungsfunktion sowie relevante Analyseparameter und deren Darstellungsformen festgelegt. Die Protokolldurchführung beinhaltet zunächst die Auswahl der zu untersuchenden Segmente, Gelenke und Muskeln ausgehend von einer oder mehreren klinischen (Arbeits-)Hypothesen bzw. von den spezifischen Symptombereichen. Darauf basierend werden die benötigten Marker und Oberflächenelektroden konfiguriert und platziert. Anschließend werden die festgelegten Kalibrierungsmessungen und Bewegungsaufgaben durchgeführt. Schließlich werden die relevanten Ergebnisparameter zur Überprüfung der Hypothesen extrahiert. Der klinische Einsatz der Methode wird exemplarisch anhand einer Violinistin mit spielbedingten Schmerzen erläutert. Klinische Implikationen: Die potenzielle Anwendung des vorgestellten Vorgehens ist die intra-individuelle Evaluation von gleichzeitig der Gelenk- als auch der Muskelfunktion bei hohen und tiefen Streichern während der physiotherapeutischen Konsultation. Dies soll sowohl zur Diagnose funktioneller Erkrankungen des Bewegungsapparates in Form einer objektiven, umfassenden und dennoch klinisch praktikablen diagnostischen Untersuchung als auch zum prä-post-interventionellen Vergleich beitragen

Motion analysis protocol for the clinical evaluation of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders in violinists, violists, and cellists

Rationale: Instrumentalists often suffer from playing-related (neuro-)musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs). Most common PRMDs in string players are related to upper-body regions. Motion analysis has proven to be helpful in the evaluation of functional disorders. It was already shown that it is a valid and clinically feasible tool for accurate, repeatable, and objective assessments of functional movement in string players. Thus, it may guide clinicians to improvements in injury prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Nevertheless, its application in clinical consultation is still very uncommon. For this reason, there is a lack of well-established motion analysis protocols for the examination of PRMDs in string players using advanced biomechanical instruments in clinical settings. Purpose: To demonstrate the development and application of a motion analysis protocol for the evaluation of functional upper-body movements in violinists, violists, and cellists in a clinical setting for the investigation of PRMDs. Approach: The protocol was to be integrated into a clinical reasoning process for testing clinical hypotheses and evaluating treatment outcomes in physiotherapy. As a starting point, a primary clinical question was defined, and then, specific upper-body symptom regions as well as measurement parameters (relative rotation angles and muscle activities over time) were identified. Subsequently, involved segments, joints, and muscles were assorted. For quantification of upper-body kinematics a novel, marker-based method was used which provides multi-segmented shoulder and spine models while providing simple application. Based on that, a comprehensive mechanical model of the upper body as well as the associated coordinate systems and rotation sequences were specified. This further guided both, the definition of a custom-made marker set as well as the selection and placement of surface electrodes. Furthermore, required static and functional calibration trials as well as movement tasks for functional assessment were specified. Finally, advanced approaches, such as a comprehensive kinematic model and functional determination of joint centers and axes were established for extraction. Then, outcome parameters and their form of representation were determined for further analysis and interpretation. The application of the method first includes the selection of segments, joints, and muscles to examine – originating from one or more clinical (working) hypotheses or symptom regions. This drives the configuration and placement of required surface markers and electrodes. Then, the required calibration and functional movement trials are executed. After measurement, the outcome parameters get extracted and analyzed. Based on the results the hypothesis is discarded or verified. Content: The method was applied to a violinist (female; 18 years old; 13 years of experience; practicing 2 to 3 hours per day, 7 days per week) with playing-related demands in the left cervical-shoulder-arm region. Subjective findings indicated that the pain regularly occurred after 30 minutes of playing fast or difficult musical pieces. Physical examination showed that strength testing of left serratus anterior muscle caused pain, lower trapezius muscles seemed weak, forearm muscles were sensitive to pressure, movement of the cervical spine to the left was reduced, and upper limb neural tension test was noticeable. This led to the following working hypothesis: Neck-related arm pain with neurodynamic component and motor control problem in the scapulothoracic region. Thus, left-sided cervical-shoulder-arm region was selected for functional examination. Optoelectronic motion capture system and surface electromyography were used for data collection. Static and function calibration trials as well as functional assessment trials (chromatic scale with different tempi) were conducted. Afterwards, data was further processed, and outcome parameters were extracted. Results showed that greater tempo and pain had an impact on the rotation angles and muscle activities. They led to less overall joint movement and range of motion, to less muscle activity in the forearm muscles, and to greater activity inputs in the scapulothoracic muscles. Overall, greater tempo and pain led to a different motor program which verified the working hypothesis. The procedure was repeated after treatment (four appointments over one week) with manual therapy, training, and education. The pre-/post-interventional comparison showed changes in the motor program. There was noticeable higher mean activity in upper trapezius and deltoid muscles and simultaneously less in the remaining ones. In addition, only marginal differences in ranges of motion and muscle activity inputs were found between tempi. The playing style appeared to be more stable now. Overall, it appeared that nearly the same motor program was used for each tempo. Clinical Implications: Potential applications are intraindividual evaluations of simultaneously joint and muscular function in string players during clinical consultation. It is intended to contribute to the diagnosis of PRMDs in terms of an objective, comprehensive and yet clinically feasible diagnostic assessment as well as pre-post-intervention outcome evaluation. Nonetheless, motion analysis must be used with care in clinical decision making. Motion data is subject to both, intraindividual variations, and measurement errors. In addition, the smallest clinically relevant changes are not clear yet. Therefore, results should only be interpreted together with other clinical findings

Standardized subjective examination protocol to evaluate performing artists’ musculoskeletal health status

background: Musculoskeletal problems (MP) are widespread in performing artists and are due to the special demands of instrument playing, singing or dancing. Additionally, various other factors might contribute to performance-related MP. To provide a specific physiotherapeutic management for performing artists it is important to gain information about the performing art, the individual demands and contributing factors. The subjective examination (SE) is the basis of the clinical reasoning process and the hypothesis forming for further clinical examination and biomechanical analysis. In the present protocol, the SE consists of a questionnaire-based section and an interview-based section and is part of the evaluation process of the neuromusculoskeletal examination of a performing artist specific reference laboratory. purpose: To develop a standardized SE protocol divided into a questionnaire-based section (Part 1) via web application and an interview-based SE (Part 2) to address MP of performing artists. methods: The questionnaires for part 1 were selected based on the expertise of the research group and the psychometric properties of each possible questionnaire. A common physiotherapeutic recording of findings which addresses the relevant questions of the SE of MP was used. To adapt the anamnesis to performing-associated MP questions specific to instrument playing, singing and dancing were selected on the basis of a literature search and the expertise of the research group. summary of content/results: Part 1 consists of three topics. (1) information about the performing art, professional level and sociodemographic data, (2) information about pain and pain processing, and (3) the anatomical location of the main MP including a body region-specific questionnaire. Part 2 is based on the five aspects of clinical practice described by Maitland and the Musculoskeletal Clinical Translation Framework by Mitchell et al. The performing arts specific part is particularly focused on performing art specific considerations, physical and psychosocial contributing factors and art-specific activities. significance: This standardized SE protocol should help clinicians evaluating the musculoskeletal health of performing artists in a standardized and specific way

Standardized clinical examination protocol to evaluate performing artists’ musculoskeletal health status (Poster)

Background: Musculoskeletal problems (MP) are widespread in performing artists and are due to the special demands of instrument playing, singing or dancing. In order to specifically evaluate these problems, a reference laboratory is under development. The evaluation covers 4 steps: a subjective examination (SE) including (1) a questionnaire-based online survey and (2) an interview-based anamnesis. On the basis of the results of the SE, hypotheses are formed for (3) an individual musculoskeletal clinical examination and a (4) biomechanical analysis. Here, the focus is on the clinical examination. Purpose: to develop a standardized protocol for a clinical examination addressing especially musculoskeletal problems in performing artists. Methods: A common physiotherapeutic clinical examination should be supplemented with techniques, which are specific to performance-related musculoskeletal problems and/or their risk factors. The development was based on a literature search and the clinical expertise of the physiotherapeutic research group. Summary of content/Results: The performing arts specific clinical examination includes the common analysis of posture as well as passive/active movement capacities and specific differentiating tests in relation to the signs and symptoms of the individual artist. The examination is supplemented by a functional demonstration focusing on the special demands of playing the respective instrument, while singing or dancing. Common overuse risk factors like hypermobility, special anthropometric data or an examination of the motor control of different body regions are addressed. Optional, the various parts of the examination process could be skipped, if not relevant for the individual artist. Significance: This clinical examination protocol should help clinicians evaluating the musculoskeletal health of performing artists in a standardized and specific way

Standardized subjective examination protocol to evaluate performing artists' musculoskeletal health status part 2 : interview based anamnesis (Poster)

rationale: Musculoskeletal problems are widespread in performing artists and are due to the special demands of instrument playing, singing or dancing. Additionally, various other factors might contribute to performance-related musculoskeletal problems. In order to provide a specific physiotherapeutic management for performing artists, it is important to gain information about the performing art, the individual (biomechanical) demands and contributing factors. The subjective examination is the basis of the clinical reasoning process and the hypothesis forming, which is important for goal setting in further clinical examination and biomechanical analysis. In the present protocol, the subjective examination consists of a questionnaire based section and an interview based section and is part of the evaluation process of the neuromusculoskeletal examination of a performing artist specific reference laboratory. purpose: The aim of this study was to develop a standardized protocol for an interview based subjective examination of performing artists with musculoskeletal problems. The results of this section of the subjective examination will be combined with the results of the questionnaire based subjective examination , in order to gather as much relevant information as possible to specifically address the individual’s musculoskeletal health status. methods: A common physiotherapeutic recording of findings which addresses the relevant questions of the subjective examination of musculoskeletal problems was used. In order to adapt the anamnesis to performing-related musculoskeletal problems, questions specific to instrument playing, singing and dancing were selected on the basis of a literature search and the expertise of the research group. results: The protocol is based on the five aspects of clinical practice described by Maitland and the Musculoskeletal Clinical Translation Framework by Mitchell et al. (2017) .The performing art specific questions especially address (1) performing art specific considerations including style, genre, education and professional level, practice habits, repertoire, and external factors, e.g. concert conditions, (2) performing art specific physical and psychosocial contributing factors, and (3) performing art specific activities which trigger the musculoskeletal problems and help to form hypotheses for the following clinical examination. Individual tracks lead through the subjective examination so that irrelevant questions are skipped depending on the kind of musculoskeletal problem and the performing art practiced by the individual client. conclusions: A pretest of this standardized anamnesis protocol is ongoing in a special physiotherapy clinic for performing artists since spring 2022. In an iterative approach, the protocol will be continuously improved based on patient feedback and clinical considerations