A Programme to Prevent Neuromuscular Injury in Musicians

Our project is aimed to prove the theory that warm ups before practicing reduce the risk of developing injury or discomfort while playing music later in a musician's life.Our intervention programme proved to be a success, the participants improved dramatically after just 5 weeks.

Between the whole group we play the violin, viola, piano and guitar. As musicians with previous experience with injury due playing, we wanted to prove that a daily warm up was beneficial and that this routine could prevent injury in the future. The resources required for this project were readily available to us meaning that the project could be easily completed, with the help of Wit and Clare Lodge.

We tested a total of 45 musicians, 35 female and 10 male. Half of them were part of the control group and the other half were the intervention group.We tested shoulder girdle and thoracic spine flexibility, muscular strength or endurance, dexterity and posture in the upper extremity.We also conducted a survey with our participants to find out the prevalence of injury in musicians and to also investigate whether the teachers influenced the prevalence of injury in our sample.

Our results from the test battery are as follows;➔ 86% of the participants increased

their flexibility in the RHS thoracicspine and 77% in the LHS.

➔ 59% reduced their time on their lefthand dexterity and 54% on their righthand.

➔ 73% improved on RHS shoulder girdleflexibility and 77% on the LHS.

➔ 99% improved their muscularstrength/endurance in the upperbody

The results from the survey were as follows;➔ 43% of our participants have

experienced neuromuscular injury asa musician

➔ 85% of the musicians did not performwarm ups before playing

➔ 32% of the musicians surveyed had ateacher who had instructed them towarm up

➔ 95% of the participants whocompleted the intervention claimedto have performed the exercises on aregular basis

Based on our study, the intervention programme has proved to be successful in improving the participants flexibility, dexterity, posture and strength. If continued, we believe that this should reduce the risk of injury in their playing careers.We can also conclude that there needs to be more resources and information about injury prevention available for teachers. Finally, based on the research about injury prevention in sports we can conclude that improving flexibility, dexterity, posture and strength should reduce the risk of injury in musicians as it has in sports people.

Introduction Results

Reasons

Methodology

Conclusion

Before After

Semi-Circular Head Rotations - relieves tension, improves flexibility

Shoulder Rolls - warms up muscles for playing

The Ticking Clock exercise - stretches shoulder, improves flexibility

The Finger Pad exercise - increases control in the fingers

The Signpost - improves flexibility in the shoulder

The Spider - improves control in finger tips

The Open Door - stretches shoulder

The Tripod - promotes good posture, engages core

The Bridge - improves core strength needed for good posture

The Half Wall Push Up - improves shoulder strength

The Intervention Programme

Intervention Exercises

Posture photos