gms | German Medical Science

Objectives/Interrogation: Professional playing musicians are one of the most difficult group of patients because of constant overloads during prolonged time of play and reluctance to medical treatment. Because of specific upper limbs biomechanical work and often unproper position while playing it is a great challenge for surgeons and physiotherapists to treat fingers, wrist, elbow and cervical neck disorders. Aim of the study was to assess muscles activity, overloads and biomechanical parameters during violin play.

Methods: 23 professional violinist (aged: 27 y.o) with average time of play 25 ± 7 years underwent examination of forearm muscles biomechanical parameters with Biodex System 4 Pro isotonic protocol. To assess muscles activity during play, wireless electromyography Noraxon Telemyo was used. Examined muscles: ECRB, FCR, FCU, biceps and triceps. To evaluate violinists muscles overloads standing position as control group was recorded. All examined participants had to play the same 3 instrumentals by Bach, Kreutzer and Wieniawski in the same order.

Results: The average peak velocity of wrist extensors was 180,2 ± 62,4 deg/sec, while the flexors was 295,8 ± 59,7 deg/sec. There were significant difference (p<0,05) between wrist flexors and extensors which influence the forearm muscles balance parameters. There were no significant difference in muscles activation between instrumentals. Right wrist extensors mean amplitude was 41 ± 3,1 uV, while the left wrist flexors was 38,9 ± 5,1 uV. The study revealed significant difference (p<0,05) between muscles overload during playing and control position in all examined muscles.

Conslusion: Mean muscle tension shows that the symptoms are not provoked by an intensity of playing. Chronic overload by training may be more likely responsible for causing the symptoms then strained position itself. Imbalance of the forearm muscle may be responsible for aggravating the symptoms.