None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Substantial epidemiological data demonstrate that music performance is associated with considerable health risk, with a large majority (67-89%) of professionals and students experiencing one or more playing-related injuries. Several studies have identified fatigue and playing overload as risk factors for a range of injuries in instrumentalists, with mismanagement of short-term fatigue (i.e. taking too few breaks, long practice sessions, increased repertoire intensity) identified as a contributor to overload. Studies in sport demonstrate that the integration of evidence-based work:rest ratios into training sessions can mitigate the short- and long-term (i.e. overload) impacts of fatigue. Conversely, in musicians, present recommendations regarding the management of short-term fatigue are based in pedagogical tradition and anecdotal evidence, and generally do not consider the impact of intensity. This study aims to provide foundational data regarding rates of short-term fatigue in musicians by evaluating changes in muscle activity and maximal force output in response to performances of repertoire of varying intensities. Data captured will help facilitate the creation of evidence-based work:rest recommendations for instrumental musicians - i.e. “performance for X minutes at Y intensity requires Z minutes rest.”
Interventions
Participants will attend the research facilities for a one-off 1.5-2 hour cross-sectional testing session administered by an exercise physiologist experienced in collecting data from musicians. Following informed consent, each testing session will begin with the application of wireless surface electromyographic (EMG) electrodes to performance-related and postural support muscles relevant to each instrumental group (upper strings, lower strings, piano, brass). Participants will then perform a ser
Participants will attend the research facilities for a one-off 1.5-2 hour cross-sectional testing session administered by an exercise physiologist experienced in collecting data from musicians. Following informed consent, each testing session will begin with the application of wireless surface electromyographic (EMG) electrodes to performance-related and postural support muscles relevant to each instrumental group (upper strings, lower strings, piano, brass). Participants will then perform a series of maximum voluntary exertions (MVE) to determine the maximum neuroelectric output (EMGmax) of each investigated muscle. Next, two maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) tests will be conducted to determine the maximum force output of postural support and performance muscles, respectively. Following MVC tests, participants will be asked to perform, for 10 minutes each and in random order, pre-prepared repertoire that they have rated to be physically/technically ‘very light’ (Borg rating of perceived exertion (RPE) = 9/20), ‘somewhat hard’ (RPE = 13/20), and ‘very difficult’ (RPE = 17/20). Imediately following each repertoire performance, additional MVC tests will be performed to evaluate fatigability-related changes in postural support and performance muscles. Repertoire performances and MVC tests will be performed sequentially, with no rest period in between. After the final repertoire performance and subsequent MVCs, participants will sit silently for 10 minutes before performing one final set of MVCs to determine recovery rates.
Sponsors
Dr. J. Matt McCrary
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Primary purpose
Diagnosis
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
University or professional instrumental musicians
Exclusion criteria
Presence of a playing-related musculoskeletal disorder at time of testing
Outcome results
None listed