The Effects of Using an Ergonomic Chinrest When Playing the Violin

Ergonomics Clinical Trial

Official title: Self-reported and Objectively Measured Muscle Tension and Neck Kinematics in Violinists Playing With an Ergonomic and Usual Chinrest: a Randomised Crossover Study

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

A one-day crossover randomised trial was conducted to compare violinists using an ergonomic chinrest (EC) with do-as-usual on muscle activation, kinematics and sound. After two weeks of testing the EC, self-perceived evaluations on comfort, performance, sound, neck alignment and muscle tension were reported in a questionnaire between EC and do-as-usual.

The main question is to answer if:

1. the EC is superior compared to do-as-usual and gives a more aligned neck posture and less muscle tension/dynamic muscle activity

2. the EC is subjectively evaluated as better than do-as-usual regarding self-perceived comfort, performance and sound

Clinical Trial Description

The purpose of this study is to investigate the measurement of neck kinematics, muscle activation and sound when using EC and a usual chinrest and, additionally, their self-reported experience of neck alignment, muscle tension, sound experience, performance, and comfort.

It is a crossover, block randomised (block sizes of 4) and within-subjects experimental design performed in one day. The design was made to compare an ergonomic chinrest used with a low shoulder rest (EC) with preferred chin and shoulder rest (do-as-usual) in a randomised order and the effect on muscle activation, kinematics and sound. The study also includes a two-week familiarisation period testing the EC before the test day (crossover design). After these two weeks, a questionnaire was given to register self-reported performance, comfort and sound experience.

Furthermore, the participants were asked in an SMS about what ergonomic equipment they used after half a year (the EC, do-as-usual or other equipment).

On the test day, all participants played with both setup an excerpt of a music piece (second movement from W. A. Mozart's violin concerto no. 5 in A major),

The required sample size was estimated based on a previous feasibility study of either being in an awkward or neutral position with the head. We aimed to recruit 38 professional violinists. A professional violinist was defined as having finished the music conservatory with the violin as the main subject or attending school enrolled in the last years (master/soloist player).

The protocol was initial feasibility tested, and we report this study using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) 2010 extension to randomised crossover trials. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Ergonomics

• NCT number: NCT05604313
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University of Southern Denmark
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 4, 2021
• Completion date: February 15, 2022