Musculoskeletal Pain and Musical Performance in First and Second Violinists of Professional Youth Chamber Orchestras: A Comparative Study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: First and second violinists in orchestras use identical instruments, but the motor patterns used to execute the different notes may vary between the two groups and the biomechanical gestures may influence musculoskeletal complaints. The primary objective of this study was to compare the pain intensity and interference in musical performance of first and second violinists of professional youth chamber orchestras. Second, to investigate the correlation between pain and the musical practice profile in this population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 74 violinists, aged 12 to 17 years, from three professional youth chamber orchestras in Brazil. Participants completed a validated self-administered questionnaire, the Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians–Brazilian version (MPIIQM-Br). Variables related to musical practice profiles were also recorded. Data analysis applied t-tests for independent samples and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The sample of first violinists (n=39) presented 23 males and 16 females, and the second violinists (n=35) included 23 females and 12 males. The mean age was 13.9 yrs (SD 1.1) and 14.1 yrs (1.0) for the first and second violinist groups, respectively. Most participants (n=66, 89%) reported pain in at least one moment of their career, and 54 (76%) reported pain at the time of data collection. A higher pain prevalence was identified in the right shoulder (37.7%), in 28.2% of the second violinists and 9.4% of the first. The second violinists presented higher scores for most variables related to pain intensity and pain interference in performance (p < 0.05). A correlation was observed between time working at a professional level and the number of affected areas on the body pain map (r=0.30; 95% CI 0.23–0.42) and between the hours of daily practice and the number of affected areas on the body pain map (r=0.39; 95% CI 0.29–0.45). CONCLUSION: Second violinists had more complaints of pain and difficulty in playing their instrument compared to the first violinists. The study also found a correlation between the number of body areas with pain complaints and variables linked to the violinists’ practice profile.

Pelatihan Genta Swara Nusantara Orchestra Pada Unit Kegiatan Mahasiswa Di Sekolah Tinggi Pariwisata Bandung

“…Genta Swara Nusantara Orchestra Bandung termasuk dalam orkestra kamar atau chamber orchestra. Vilela et al, (2021) mengemukakan bahwa Orkestra kamar atau Chamber Orchestra merupakan organisasi musik dalam formasi kecil dengan jumlah pemain yang terbatas. Lain halnya dengan Symphony Orchestra yang merupakan standar orkes besar yang dikenal sejak abad ke-19 yang mampu atau memenuhi syarat memainkan karya-karya simfoni (Luo, 2018).…”

For Fiddlers on the Roof and in the Pit: Healthcare and Epidemiology of Playing-Related Problems in Violinists

“…The subjects of all 14 studies complained of sustained muscular and joint pain, almost exclusively in the upper extremities. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] An Australian study on adolescents including 135 violinists reported a statistically significant lifetime OR of 2.13 of developing PRMD. Symptoms ranged from jaw, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand pain to measured spinal hyperlordosis, scapular dyskinesia, paresthesia and tendinitis.…”