The Effects of Using an Ergonomic Chinrest When Playing the Violin

NCT05604313 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: 20202000-87
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 38
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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

Conditions

Ergonomics

Keywords

crossover design; neck kinematic; muscle workload; violin playing; performance; comfort

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (7)

• Upper body kinematic was recorded by the device called Vicon

  Neck movement data were collected with Vicon measured in degrees of movement in three anatomical planes: 1) head flexion, 2) head lateral bend, 3) head rotation, 4) trunk flexion, 5) trunk rotation and 6) arm abduction. This measurement was recorded on the test day for both setups while playing a music piece. Furthermore, a test was made on the ROM (head) in a sitting position for all participants before measuring the kinematics during the music piece.

  One day

• Electromyography was recored with Myon

  Wireless sEMG (Myon 320, AG, Switzerland) was used and placed to measure muscle activity bilaterally from the upper trapezius muscles (UT), upper neck extensor muscles (NE), sternocleidomastoideus muscles (SCM) and on the right medial and left anterior deltoideus muscle (DT). This measurement was recorded on the test day for both setups.

  One day

• Sound was recorded with Olympus LS-10 stereo digital recorder

  Sound measurement was recorded on the test day for both setups

  One day

• Self-reported performance score

  Three questions were used for an overall performance score: Have you had difficulty with (within the last 14 days) 1) playing your violin? 2) using your normal technique when playing? 3) playing as well as you would like to? The questions were answered on a 5-point Likert scale from no to impossible. These questions were given after the two-week familiarisation period.

  Two weeks

• Self-reported comfort score

  Five questions are used for the overall comfort score: How comfortable was (the last 14 days) 1) playing with EC-/ EC+, 2) the height of EC (with your chosen adjustment), 3) the configuration of EC that you have chosen, and 4) the size of the EC chinplate? , 5) the chinrest surface against your skin? The question was answered on a 5-point Likert scale from very comfortable to very uncomfortable. These questions were given after the two-week familiarisation period.

  Two weeks

• sound quiz

  A quiz with six audio files in a randomised order was sent a month after the test day. The quiz was simple: "Do you play using Kréddle (the EC)": yes, no, don't know.

  one month

• Diary

  Each day during the two-week familiarisation period the violinists had to fill in a diary: written user feedback that will be categorised into positive, negative or neutral feedback. Furthermore about the EC adjustment and their confidence level. The adjustment was recorded if they found an adjustment that worked ('Yes', 'No', 'Not yet'). The confidence level when playing with EC was reported on a 5-point Likert scale (5= very confident, 1=not very confident). 'Very confident' was defined as if the violinist could play the music sheets sent to them also after a break of several days

  Two weeks

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Adherence

  Two weeks

• Compliance

  Two weeks

• Follow-up on which product they are using

  6 month

• Antroprometrics

  One day

• Instrument measurement

  One day

Study Arms (2)

Ergonomic chinrest used with low shoulder rest (EC)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will play the violin using the ergonomic chinrest with a low Kun Super shoulder rest (EC)

Device: Ergonomic chinrest used with low shoulder rest (EC)

Do-as-usual

NO INTERVENTION

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

Interventions

Ergonomic chinrest used with low shoulder rest (EC) 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.

Ergonomic chinrest used with low shoulder rest (EC)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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).

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Southern Denmark: lead
• Axel Muusfeldts fond: collaborator
• Region of Southern Denmark: collaborator
• Sygekassernes Helsefond: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Southern Denmark

Odense, 5230, Denmark

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: This study is open-label, meaning that no masking occurs. The intervention could not be masked (ergonomic equipment testing).
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: We designed a crossover, block randomised (block sizes of 4) and within-subjects experimental design.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 27, 2022
• First Posted: November 3, 2022
• Study Start: January 4, 2021
• Primary Completion: February 15, 2022
• Study Completion: February 15, 2022
• Last Updated: November 14, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

DK (1)