Kinematics and Muscle Activation of Scapula in Upper String Players With Neck Pain
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: motion capture system, surface electromyography.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Non-specific Neck Pain, Playing Related Musculoskeletal Disorders. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Taiwan
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
This study will analyze and compare scapular kinematics and muscle activation patterns between upper string musicians with and without neck pain during arm elevation and playing tasks (open strings, scales, musical pieces), providing insights for performance training and rehabilitation programs to reduce playing-related musculoskeletal disorders.
Detailed description
The study participants will be right-handed upper string musicians (violinists and violists) aged 18 years and older. Participants must have at least 5 years of playing experience and practice more than 6 hours per week.
Neck pain group: non-specific neck pain (between superior nuchal line and T1) lasting at least 2 weeks with NRS ≥3.
Healthy control group: no neck/shoulder pain history in the past year, matched for age, gender, handedness, playing experience (\>5 years), and practice hours (\>6 hours/week).
The study involves arm elevation (0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°); open string playing (at 60-120 bpm); A major scale (at 60-120 bpm); E major scale (at 60-120 bpm); and Vittorio Monti Csárdás.
Interventions
- Device motion capture system, surface electromyography
Arm elevation (0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°), open string playing, scale practice, and musical piece performance
Primary outcome measures
- Scapular muscles activation during arm elevation and dynamic instrument-playing tasks. [Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 hour]
- Scapular kinematics during arm elevation and dynamic instrument-playing tasks [Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 hour]
Secondary outcome measures (6)
- Cervical muscles activation during arm elevation and dynamic instrument-playing tasks [Time frame: : Through study completion, an average of 1 hour]
- Cervical kinematic during arm elevation and dynamic instrument-playing tasks [Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 hour]
- Shoulder muscle strength [Time frame: Immediately during the experiment]
- Cervical and Shoulder mobility [Time frame: Immediately during the experiment]
- Shoulder muscle length test [Time frame: Immediately during the experiment]
- Postural Angles (CVA and FSA) [Time frame: Immediately during the experiment]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age ≥ 18 years old.
- Having at least 5 years of string instrument playing experience and practicing for more than 6 hours per week.
- For the neck pain group: Experiencing non-specific neck pain for at least 2 weeks, with pain located between the superior nuchal line and the T1 spinous process, and a pain intensity of at least 3 on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS ≥ 3).
- For the healthy control group: Having no history of neck or shoulder pain within the past year (matched with the neck pain group by age, gender, and handedness).
Exclusion criteria
- History of any neck or shoulder surgery or fracture.
- Experiencing pain below the elbow with an intensity of at least 3 (NRS ≥ 3).
- Diagnosed history of any structural cervical spine issues, such as herniation of intervertebral disc (HIVD), cervical spine spondylosis, or spondylolisthesis.
- Positive response on any of the following 5 cervical spine screening tests: cervical distraction test, Spurling's test, Valsalva test, rotational alar ligament stress test, or Sharp-Purser test.
- Any neurological disorders.
- Pregnancy during the study period.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
Taiwan · 1 center
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University — Taipei
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07448857 · NYCU114204AE