Thoracic Mobility, Posture, Functional Capacity, and Respiratory Rate in Children Playing Wind Instruments

NCT07477535 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: yeditepe2026
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 102
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate thoracic mobility, posture, functional capacity, and respiratory rate in children aged 8-14 years who play wind instruments and to compare these findings with those of their peers who do not play wind instruments. In line with this primary objective, the study seeks to comprehensively investigate the potential biomechanical and physiological adaptations associated with playing wind instruments in the context of childhood music education, with a particular focus on chest wall mobility, postural alignment, respiratory efficiency, and functional capacity. The novelty of this study lies in being the first to adopt a holistic perspective to examine the effects of wind instrument playing on the postural and cardiorespiratory systems during the sensitive developmental period of 8-14 years, which is known to be highly responsive to biomechanical adaptations. By addressing this understudied age group, the study aims to fill an important gap in the existing literature.

Conditions

Respiration Disorder; Posture; Functional Capacity; Music; Child

Keywords

child; posture; music

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Thoracic Mobility Assessment

  Thoracic mobility will be assessed using chest circumference measurements obtained with a tape measure. Children will be instructed to perform maximal inspiration and maximal expiration while in a seated position. Measurements will be taken at the axillary, epigastric, and subcostal levels. Each measurement will be repeated three times, and the mean value will be recorded. Thoracic expansion will be calculated as the difference between inspiratory and expiratory chest circumferences. This method has been described as a reliable and clinically feasible approach for evaluating thoracic mobility in children. Cruz-Montecinos et al. reported high inter-rater reliability for chest circumference measurements obtained with a tape measure in pediatric populations. Similarly, Sharma and Parashar demonstrated that thoracic expansion measurements in school-aged children show high reproducibility and can provide reference values for healthy children.

  Both groups will be assessed once. There will be no intervention. All participants' measurements will be completed by May 2026.

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Postural Assessment

  Both groups will be assessed once. There will be no intervention. All participants' measurements will be completed by May 2026.

• Functional Capacity Assessment

  Both groups will be assessed once. There will be no intervention. All participants' measurements will be completed by May 2026.

• Respiratory Rate Assessment

  Both groups will be assessed once. There will be no intervention. All participants' measurements will be completed by May 2026.

Study Arms (2)

Wind Instrument Group (WIG)

This study includes healthy children aged 8-14 years who are in primary and middle school and play wind instruments. Healthy children aged 8-14 years who have regularly played the flute or melodica for at least one year (Musician Group).

Non-Wind Instrument Group (NWIG)

The control group will consist of age-matched children who do not play any wind instruments.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 8 Years - 14 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

This study is planned to include healthy children aged 8-14 years who attend primary and middle school and either play or do not play wind instruments. Healthy volunteer children aged 8-14 years from schools in Tekirdağ, who either play wind instruments or do not play wind instruments (e.g., those playing string instruments) as part of compulsory music education, will be recruited. Participants will be divided into two groups: those who play wind instruments and those who do not. The musician group will consist of healthy children aged 8-14 years who have been regularly playing the flute or melodica for at least one year, whereas the control group will comprise age-matched children who do not play any wind instruments.

You may qualify if:

• Aged 8-14 years and enrolled in primary or middle school
• Having regularly played the flute or melodica for at least one year (≥2 days/week, ≥20 minutes/day)
• For the control group, no prior experience with wind instruments during the previous year
• Absence of any diagnosed cardiopulmonary, neurological, or musculoskeletal conditions
• Giving written parent informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• History of an acute respiratory tract infection within the past week
• A diagnosis or history of allergic asthma or other chronic respiratory disease
• Presence of chest wall abnormalities (e.g., barrel chest)
• A diagnosed scoliosis deformity
• A diagnosis or history of developmental delay or neuromotor disorders
• Any cognitive or communication impairment that could interfere with participation in the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Yeditepe University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Yeditepe University

Istanbul, Ataşehir, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (11)

• Rusconi F, Castagneto M, Gagliardi L, Leo G, Pellegatta A, Porta N, Razon S, Braga M. Reference values for respiratory rate in the first 3 years of life. Pediatrics. 1994 Sep;94(3):350-5.

  PMID: 8065862 BACKGROUND

• 10. Rajakumari, D. L., & Alagesan, S. (2012). Survey of posture using New York postural rating scale-Impact of corrective and aerobic exercise on posture and physiological variables. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, 1(10), 151-160.

  BACKGROUND

• Li AM, Yin J, Au JT, So HK, Tsang T, Wong E, Fok TF, Ng PC. Standard reference for the six-minute-walk test in healthy children aged 7 to 16 years. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007 Jul 15;176(2):174-80. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200607-883OC. Epub 2007 Apr 26.

  PMID: 17463419 BACKGROUND

• 8. Hatziagorou, E., Kousta, A., Hristara-Papadopoulou, A., et al. (2018). Pulmonary function in young wind instrument players. European Respiratory Journal, 52(Suppl 62), PA4575.

  BACKGROUND

• Giontella A, Tagetti A, Bonafini S, Marcon D, Cattazzo F, Bresadola I, Antoniazzi F, Gaudino R, Cavarzere P, Montagnana M, Pietrobelli A, Maffeis C, Minuz P, Fava C. Comparison of Performance in the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) between Overweight/Obese and Normal-Weight Children and Association with Haemodynamic Parameters: A Cross-Sectional Study in Four Primary Schools. Nutrients. 2024 Jan 25;16(3):356. doi: 10.3390/nu16030356.

  PMID: 38337641 BACKGROUND

• 6. Cruz-Montecinos, C., Mandiola, E., & Soto, J. (2017). Reliability of chest wall expansion measurements in children using a measuring tape method. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 29(2), 120-126.

  BACKGROUND

• Kim BS, Kim H, Kim JY. Effects of a choral program combining wind instrument performance and breathing training on respiratory function, stress, and quality of life in adolescents: A randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2024 May 7;19(5):e0276568. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276568. eCollection 2024.

  PMID: 38713736 BACKGROUND

• 4. Beynon, C., Holman, S., & McKenzie, M. (2020). Postural demands of playing musical instruments in childhood and adolescence: A systematic review. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 36(10), 1073-1085

  BACKGROUND

• 3. Beck, J. R., Sethi, J. M., & Tanner, J. L. (2016). Reliability of respiratory rate measurement in children by visual observation. Pediatric Pulmonology, 51(9), 915-920.

  BACKGROUND

• 2. Antoniadou, M., Michaelidis, V., & Tsara, V. (2012). Lung function in wind instrument players. Pneumon, 25(2), 180-183.

  BACKGROUND

• ATS Committee on Proficiency Standards for Clinical Pulmonary Function Laboratories. ATS statement: guidelines for the six-minute walk test. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002 Jul 1;166(1):111-7. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm.166.1.at1102. No abstract available.

  PMID: 12091180 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Respiration Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Respiratory Tract Diseases

Study Officials

• Aslı Yeral

  Yeditepe University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 12, 2026
• First Posted: March 17, 2026
• Study Start: April 17, 2026
• Primary Completion: May 15, 2026
• Study Completion: May 31, 2026
• Last Updated: June 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)