The correlation of muscle strength, flexibility and range of motion with pain in musicians playing string instruments

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation of muscle strength, flexibility, and range of motion with pain in musicians playing string instruments. This randomized, controlled trial included 37 in musicians aged range of 19 to 41, including 17 male and 20 female string players. The mean of age, weight, height, and BMI values of musicians playing a string instrument were examined. The amount of pain parameters was measured with the visual analog scale, joints’ range of motion measured with universal goniometer and flexibility measured with Beighton Hypermobility Score. Measured variables were analyzed, compared, and correlated. The mean age of participants was 24.97±5.52 years, and the mean body mass index of participants was 21.69±2.46 kg/m2. Regarding the rough grip, pinch grip muscle strength, pain parameter scores between male and female string players, statistically significant differences were observed (p 0.05). A weak positive correlation observed between muscle strength and pain parameters; a weak negative correlation observed between joints’ the range of motion and pain parameters. Also, a significantly strong negative relationship observed between flexibility and pain parameters. In conclusion, according to scores between female and male string players, statistically significant differences were noticed in the rough grip, pinch grip muscle strength, pain parameters in contrast with flexibility. This study found that flexibility and joints’ range of motion has a negative correlation with pain in musicians playing a string instrument in contrast to muscle strength.