Abstract
Overuse injuries are common among violists and violinists. 1 Due to the awkward postural position required, violists and violinists often suffer from repetitive strain injuries to the upper extremities. This report is part of a pilot study to evaluate manifestations of fatigue and local mechanical stress by means of dynamic electromyographic (EMG) and 3D kinematic analysis of complex movements in viola playing. Methods: Four viola students without musculoskeletal complaints were recruited from the Royal Flemish Conservatory of Antwerp. Electromagnetic tracking data were obtained with an extended range Flock of Birds (Ascension Technology) and converted to anatomically defined
Euler/Cardan angles of scapulothoracic, humeroscapular, and forearm-humerus movements following the recommendations of the International Society of Biomechanics. The procedure consisted of a 3-min evaluation playing, followed by a 20-min fatiguing session, and ended with the initial 3-min evaluation playing. The bow and support arm were separately evaluated with a different partiture playing, unknown
to the students, specifically compiled by the viola tutor with emphasis on spiccato for the bow (right) arm and vibrato for the support (left) arm. Normality of distribution, SD, and means of pre-and post situations were compared by means of Kolmogorov Smirnoff test, an F-test, and non-paired t-test.
Results: Small but significant (ptipping, less medial and more upward rotation of the scapula, more external rotation of the humerus, and less flexion with less pronation of the forearm. The support arm significantly (pDiscussion: A 20-min fatiguing session of viola playing induced significant 3D arthrokinematic changes in the kinematic chain of the upper extremity, in terms of positioning of the bow and support arms as well as in range of motion. It also appeared that this 20-min play induced a scapulothoracic,
humeroscapular, and forearm-humerus arthrokinematic locking. Future research will focus on the 3D
arthrokinematics in violists/violinists with musculoskeletal disorders and the motor learning involved with viola/violin playing.
Euler/Cardan angles of scapulothoracic, humeroscapular, and forearm-humerus movements following the recommendations of the International Society of Biomechanics. The procedure consisted of a 3-min evaluation playing, followed by a 20-min fatiguing session, and ended with the initial 3-min evaluation playing. The bow and support arm were separately evaluated with a different partiture playing, unknown
to the students, specifically compiled by the viola tutor with emphasis on spiccato for the bow (right) arm and vibrato for the support (left) arm. Normality of distribution, SD, and means of pre-and post situations were compared by means of Kolmogorov Smirnoff test, an F-test, and non-paired t-test.
Results: Small but significant (ptipping, less medial and more upward rotation of the scapula, more external rotation of the humerus, and less flexion with less pronation of the forearm. The support arm significantly (pDiscussion: A 20-min fatiguing session of viola playing induced significant 3D arthrokinematic changes in the kinematic chain of the upper extremity, in terms of positioning of the bow and support arms as well as in range of motion. It also appeared that this 20-min play induced a scapulothoracic,
humeroscapular, and forearm-humerus arthrokinematic locking. Future research will focus on the 3D
arthrokinematics in violists/violinists with musculoskeletal disorders and the motor learning involved with viola/violin playing.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 135-136 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | Medical Problems of Performing Artists |
| Volume | 23 |
| Publication status | Published - 2008 |
Keywords
- three-dimensional arthrokinematics of the support