Fundamental Tongue Motions for Trumpet Playing: A Study Using Cine Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Cine MRI)

Musculoskeletal and psychological assessments used in quantitatively based studies about musicians' health in brass players: A systematic literature review

OBJECTIVE

Brass players are exposed to high musculoskeletal strains during their instrumental play. Various assessments can be used to measure these strains, whereby a targeted therapy can also be supported. The aim of this study was to review literature concerning assessments used in quantitatively based studies about the analysis of musculoskeletal loads of brass players.

DATA SOURCES

The Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL, PEDro as well as the journal "Medical Problems of Performing Artists" were searched for relevant studies.

STUDY SELECTION

Two reviewers independently applied the inclusion and exclusion criteria to select potential studies. A third reviewer was involved in the case of discrepancies.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two reviewers independently extracted the data.

DATA SYNTHESIS

A total of 73 studies conducted between 2004 and 2019 were included. Within a total of 30 studies, 18 assessments could be found that collect 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional kinematic data using video- or image-based analysis of posture, sonographic, optoelectronic and various electromagnetic systems. In 7 studies kinetic data were measured by force-transducers, pressure platforms, stabilizer and dynamometer. Fifteen studies used clinical examinations and additional assessments to screen individual body regions and 9 studies derived electromyography measurements from a total of 25 muscles. Thirty-one partially validated questionnaires were used to record musculoskeletal pain of brass players.

CONCLUSIONS

A variety of assessments can be used to optimize analysis and treatment procedures in research and clinical work. Future studies should both examine quality criteria of the various assessment methods and validate clinical examinations and questionnaires.

A new classification of wind instruments: Orofacial considerations

Background/objective

Playing a wind instrument implies rhythmic jaw movements where the embouchure applies forces with different directions and intensities towards the orofacial structures. These features are relevant when comparing the differences between a clarinettist and a saxophone player embouchure, independently to the fact that both belong to the single-reed instrument group, making therefore necessary to update the actual classification.

Methods

Lateral cephalograms were taken to single-reed, double-reed and brass instrumentalists with the purpose of analyzing the relationship of the mouthpiece and the orofacial structures.

Results

The comparison of the different wind instruments showed substantial differences. Therefore the authors purpose a new classification of wind instruments: Class 1 single-reed mouthpiece, division 1- clarinet, division 2 -saxophone; Class 2 double-reed instruments, division 1- oboe, division 2- bassoon; Class 3 cup-shaped mouthpiece, division 1- trumpet and French horn, division 2- trombone and tuba; Class 4 aperture mouthpieces, division 1- flute, division 2 - transversal flute and piccolo.

Conclusions

Elements such as dental arches, teeth and lips, assume vital importance at a new nomenclature and classification of woodwind instruments that were in the past mainly classified by the type of mouthpiece and not taking into consideration its relationship with their neighboring structures.