Using an Ergonomic Chinrest With or Without Shoulder Rest During Violin Playing: a Feasibility Study

NCT ID: NCT05509465

Last Updated: 2022-08-22

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 6 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2020-08-21
• Study Completion Date: 2020-10-16

Brief Summary

A one-arm feasibility study was conducted to test if violinists would accept to play with an identified ergonomic chinrest (EC) with the brand name Kréddle every day for two weeks. Every day the participants had to divide their total playing time equally between EC+ (ergonomic chinrest with shoulder rest) and EC- (ergonomic chinrest without shoulder rest) each day.

Detailed Description

This study is testing the feasibility (usability and acceptability) of a two-week familiarization period where violinists usually playing with a shoulder rest had to play their violin with an ergonomic chinrest (EC) with (EC+) and without a shoulder rest (EC-).

Primary outcomes were compliance, adherence, usability and acceptability of the familiarization period.

Prior the familiarization period each violinist received the chinrest (Kréddle) and a shoulder rest (Kun Super rest violin 4/4) and had to follow instructions given through three introduction videos.

The included violinists received a web questionnaire (QA) before and after the familiarization period. This period is unsupervised with the EC (ergonomic chinrest). Every day each violinist should equally divide their total playing time between playing without shoulder rest (EC-) and the other half with the shoulder rest (EC+) with the EC. A diary was answered each day containing different questions in regard to playing hours and usability.

The reporting in this study adheres to the CONSORT 2010 extension for pilot and feasibility trials.

When this study was initiated, we aimed at a sample size of 10-12 as a rule of thumb for a pilot/feasibility study. However, due to the corona pandemic and the many national restrictions including keeping distance, seeing only a few people, getting tested for the virus and staying at home, if possible, this number could not be reached. Even though the study was planned to include more participants the result from this small study is pointing in one direction, which is supported in a previous study as well.

Conditions

Ergonomics

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: DEVICE_FEASIBILITY
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Ergonomic chinrest used with low shoulder rest (EC+)

Participants will play the violin using the ergonomic chinrest with a low Kun Super shoulder rest (EC+) for a two-week period to test its usability and acceptability. Each day participants have to use half of their playing time with EC+.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Ergonomic chinrest used with a low Super Kun shoulder rest

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The novel ergonomic chinrest (Kréddle®, Wyoming, US) is fully adjustable to accommodate each violinist's body type and performance style: regarding height, rotation and tilting. The low Super Kun shoulder rest has been adjusted to be in the lowest position for all legs attached to the violin before the violinists received it. All participants was told not to adjust the shoulder rest but adjust the chinrest.

Ergonomic chinrest used without shoulder rest (EC-)

Participants will play the violin using the ergonomic chinrest without a shoulder rest for a two-week period to test its usability and acceptability. Each day participants have to use half of their playing time with EC-.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Ergonomic chinrest

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The novel ergonomic chinrest (Kréddle®, Wyoming, US) is fully adjustable to accommodate each violinist's body type and performance style: regarding height, rotation and tilting.

Interventions

Ergonomic chinrest

The novel ergonomic chinrest (Kréddle®, Wyoming, US) is fully adjustable to accommodate each violinist's body type and performance style: regarding height, rotation and tilting.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Ergonomic chinrest used with a low Super Kun shoulder rest

The novel ergonomic chinrest (Kréddle®, Wyoming, US) is fully adjustable to accommodate each violinist's body type and performance style: regarding height, rotation and tilting. The low Super Kun shoulder rest has been adjusted to be in the lowest position for all legs attached to the violin before the violinists received it. All participants was told not to adjust the shoulder rest but adjust the chinrest.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Writing and speaking Danish or English fluently. Participants had to be trained violinists who could play the protocol classical repertoire and without a permanent employment contract in a Danish symphony orchestra.

Exclusion Criteria

• Trauma on the upper cervical spine or upper extremities within the previous year, previous or planned shoulder/neck operation, life-threatening health disorders, pacemaker or severe eczema on neck and upper extremities.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Axel Muusfeldts fond

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Region of Southern Denmark

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Sygekassernes Helsefond

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Southern Denmark

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Karen Søgaard, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Southern Denmark

Locations

University of Southern Denmark

Odense, , Denmark

Countries

Denmark

Other Identifiers

10.990

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id