Clinical trial NCT05604313: The Effects of Using an Ergonomic Chinrest When Playing the Violin
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
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Ergonomics
Keywords: crossover design
neck kinematic
muscle workload
violin playing
performance
comfort
Lead sponsor: University of Southern Denmark
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Axel Muusfeldts fond
name: Region of Southern Denmark
name: Sygekassernes Helsefond
First posted: 2022-11-03
Enrollment: 38
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Intervention model description: We designed a crossover, block randomised (block sizes of 4) and within-subjects experimental design.
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief 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

Detailed 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.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years or older
* speak and write fluently Danish or English
* Professional violinists
* No severe pain symptoms in the neck or upper extremities (\<3) scored on a numeric rating scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst perceived pain).

Exclusion Criteria:

* medical conditions that could influence the test result (pacemaker or life-threatening health disorders)
* trauma on the upper cervical spine or upper extremities within the last 12 months
* previous or planned shoulder/neck operation
* severe eczema on the neck and upper extremities.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Upper body kinematic was recorded by the device called Vicon
timeFrame: One day
measure: Electromyography was recored with Myon
timeFrame: One day
measure: Sound was recorded with Olympus LS-10 stereo digital recorder
timeFrame: One day
measure: Self-reported performance score
timeFrame: Two weeks
measure: Self-reported comfort score
timeFrame: Two weeks
measure: sound quiz
timeFrame: one month
measure: Diary
timeFrame: Two weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Adherence
timeFrame: Two weeks
measure: Compliance
timeFrame: Two weeks
measure: Follow-up on which product they are using
timeFrame: 6 month
measure: Antroprometrics
timeFrame: One day
measure: Instrument measurement
timeFrame: One day
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Odense
country: Denmark
facility: University of Southern Denmark
Study officials:
References: