Abstract:
Playing a musical instrument requires force exertion by different muscles at different positions depending on the musical instrument type. Moreover, during a musical performance, muscle coordination with the rhythmic pattern of the music should be maintained while expressing the emotion in the musical piece. Since ergonomics doesn’t have an effect in musical instrument design process as sound production has, musicians might encounter musculoskeletal discomfort and disorders while using their muscles to play musical instruments. The aims of the study were to investigate the prevalence and musical performance interference of musicians’ symptoms, analyze the factors affecting them, and develop prevention ideas. For that purpose, data were collected by a developed survey tool from 348 participants consisting of professional and amateur musicians, music teachers and students who were playing instruments from brass, drums and percussion, keyboard, strings, woodwind, and plucked strings instrument families. Moreover, the hand dimensions of 33 participants were measured and RULA Analyses were made to musicians playing instruments from every musical instrument group. The results showed that 98.28% and 66.09% of the participants had symptoms and performance interferences at least at one body part, respectively. Strings and woodwind group instrument players were found to have the highest number of body parts at risk while higher experience levels increased the risk of symptoms and musical performance interferences. Suggestions were made for instrument playing positions to prevent musical instrument playing related symptoms, ergonomic instruments and supportive tools.
