Non-specific Neck Pain, Playing Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
Conditions
Keywords
Non-specific neck pain, upper string musicians, scapular kinematics, muscle activity, shoulder electromyography, Playing Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
Brief summary
This study will analyze and compare scapular kinematics and muscle activation patterns between upper string musicians with and without neck pain during arm elevation and playing tasks (open strings, scales, musical pieces), providing insights for performance training and rehabilitation programs to reduce playing-related musculoskeletal disorders.
Detailed description
The study participants will be right-handed upper string musicians (violinists and violists) aged 18 years and older. Participants must have at least 5 years of playing experience and practice more than 6 hours per week. Neck pain group: non-specific neck pain (between superior nuchal line and T1) lasting at least 2 weeks with NRS ≥3. Healthy control group: no neck/shoulder pain history in the past year, matched for age, gender, handedness, playing experience (\>5 years), and practice hours (\>6 hours/week). The study involves arm elevation (0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°); open string playing (at 60-120 bpm); A major scale (at 60-120 bpm); E major scale (at 60-120 bpm); and Vittorio Monti Csárdás.
Interventions
Arm elevation (0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°), open string playing, scale practice, and musical piece performance
Sponsors
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age ≥ 18 years old. * Having at least 5 years of string instrument playing experience and practicing for more than 6 hours per week. * For the neck pain group: Experiencing non-specific neck pain for at least 2 weeks, with pain located between the superior nuchal line and the T1 spinous process, and a pain intensity of at least 3 on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS ≥ 3). * For the healthy control group: Having no history of neck or shoulder pain within the past year (matched with the neck pain group by age, gender, and handedness).
Exclusion criteria
* History of any neck or shoulder surgery or fracture. * Experiencing pain below the elbow with an intensity of at least 3 (NRS ≥ 3). * Diagnosed history of any structural cervical spine issues, such as herniation of intervertebral disc (HIVD), cervical spine spondylosis, or spondylolisthesis. * Positive response on any of the following 5 cervical spine screening tests: cervical distraction test, Spurling's test, Valsalva test, rotational alar ligament stress test, or Sharp-Purser test. * Any neurological disorders. * Pregnancy during the study period.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scapular kinematics during arm elevation and dynamic instrument-playing tasks | Through study completion, an average of 1 hour | Three-dimensional scapular orientation (upward/downward rotation, internal/external rotation, anterior/posterior tilt) will be measured using an electromagnetic tracking system during arm elevation (0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°) and dynamic instrument-playing tasks. Data will be expressed in degrees. |
| Scapular muscles activation during arm elevation and dynamic instrument-playing tasks. | Through study completion, an average of 1 hour | Muscle activation levels of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior will be measured using surface electromyography (sEMG) during arm elevation (0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°) and dynamic instrument-playing tasks. Data will be normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) and expressed as root mean square (RMS) amplitude. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cervical kinematic during arm elevation and dynamic instrument-playing tasks | Through study completion, an average of 1 hour | Three-dimensional movement of the cervical spine will be measured using the VIPER electromagnetic tracking system during arm elevation and dynamic instrument-playing tasks. Data will be expressed in degrees. |
| Shoulder muscle strength | Immediately during the experiment | Isometric muscle strength of the upper/lower trapezius, and serratus anterior muscles will be evaluated using a hand-held dynamometer (MicroFET2). Data will be expressed in kilograms (kg). |
| Cervical and Shoulder mobility | Immediately during the experiment | cervical range of motion (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation) will be measured using CROM. Shoulder range of motion will be measured using inclinometer. Data will be expressed in degrees (°). |
| Postural Angles (CVA and FSA) | Immediately during the experiment | Craniovertebral angle (CVA) and forward shoulder angle (FSA) will be measured using digital photography to assess static head and shoulder posture. |
| Shoulder muscle length test | Immediately during the experiment | Resting length of the pectoralis minor and levator scapulae muscles will be measured using a tape measure and vernier caliper. Pectoralis minor index (PMI) and levator scapulae index (LSI) will be calculated and expressed as percentages (%). Pectoralis major flexibility assessed in supine via ability to rest the posterior shoulder flat on the table (pass/fail). |
| Cervical muscles activation during arm elevation and dynamic instrument-playing tasks | : Through study completion, an average of 1 hour | Muscle activation levels of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and cervical extensors (CE) will be measured using surface electromyography (sEMG) during arm elevation and dynamic instrument-playing tasks. Data will be normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) and expressed as root mean square (RMS) amplitude. |
Countries
Taiwan
Contacts
CONTACTYIN-LIANG LIN, PhD
CONTACTHSUAN-I SU, MS
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORYIN-LIANG LIN, PhD
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
Outcome results
None listed