title: Neck muscle function in violinists/violists with and without neck pain.
abstract: Neck pain is associated with changes in neuromuscular control of cervical muscles. Violin and viola playing requires good function of the flexor muscles to stabilize the instrument. This study investigated the flexor muscle behaviour in violin/viola players with and without neck pain using the craniocervical flexion test (CCFT). In total, 12 violin/viola players with neck pain, 21 violin/viola players without neck pain in the preceding 12 weeks and 21 pain-free non-musicians were included. Activity of the sternocleidomastoid muscles (SCM) was measured with surface electromyography (EMG) during the CCFT. Violin/viola players with neck pain displayed greater normalised SCM EMG amplitudes during CCFT than the pain-free musicians and non-musicians (P < 0.05). Playing-related neck pain in violinists/violists is associated with altered behaviour of the superficial neck flexor muscles consistent with neck pain, despite the specific use of the deep and superficial neck flexors during violin playing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Physical Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany. anke.steinmetz@uk-halle.de.|Institute of Musicians' Medicine, Department of Manual Medicine and Pain Medicine, Sana Kliniken Sommerfeld, Waldhausstr. 44, D-16766, Kremmen/OT Sommerfeld, Germany. anke.steinmetz@uk-halle.de.
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steinmetz
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury & Health, Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Claus
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury & Health, Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury & Health, Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Gwendolen A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Jull
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D009333:Neck; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D060051:Occupational Injuries; D010808:Physical Examination; D011312:Pressure; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Electromyography; Muscle activity; Musician; Neck pain