The Effects of Using an Ergonomic Chinrest When Playing the Violin

NCT ID: NCT05604313

Last Updated: 2022-11-14

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 38 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-01-04
• Study Completion Date: 2022-02-15

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.

Conditions

Ergonomics

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• 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)

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Ergonomic chinrest used with low shoulder rest (EC)

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Participants will play the violin using the ergonomic chinrest with a low Kun Super shoulder rest (EC) for two weeks before the test day (crossover study), measuring upper body kinematic and muscle activity. 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.

Do-as-usual

On the test day (crossover study), participants will play with the usual preferred chin and shoulder rest.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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 two weeks before the test day (crossover study), measuring upper body kinematic and muscle activity. 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

• 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.

• 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

Locations

University of Southern Denmark

Odense, , Denmark

Countries

Denmark

Other Identifiers

20202000-87

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id