OVERUSE INJURIES AND PIANO TECHNIQUE - Institutional ...

involving the lumbar back, dorsal back, cervical neck, upper trapezius,
shoulders, forearm and wrists.35 The six subjects studied in the
electromyographic study performed exercises selected from Hanon which
involved different use of the hand/forearm. Each subject performed the
exercise at the minimimi speed specified by the score and at his/her own
personal maximum tempo. In addition to the selected exercises, each subject
performed one or two passages from his/her repertoire which he/she
considered to be the most difficult.36 Taken as a whole, the results
demonstrated: (1) that deltoid and biceps muscles showed low effort in
comparison with other parts of the playing apparatus; (2) effort of liunbar
erector and trapezius muscles as well as the muscles of the epitrochlea group
was considerable, though within normal parameters; and (3) effort of
trapezius muscles was generally asymmetric, with the left side putting forth
more effort, in female subjects. In the males, both trapezius muscles were
equally involved with respect to static and median loading while for peak
loading there was much greater involvement on the right side.37 Additional
findings demonstrated that the smaller build and the lower muscle power of
the females called for greater effort by the large muscles of the shoulder and
trunk, especially the lumbar erector and trapezius muscles, in order to sustain
finger motion. 38 Analysis of muscle involvement in executing the exercises
shows excessive loading of several muscles and muscle groups, notably those
of the forearm. Grieco concludes with suggestions for the prevention of
injuries via ergonomic improvements of the piano bench. He suggests, at
35 Ibid.
36 Ibid., 699.
37 Ibid., 705.
38 Ibid., 706.
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