European Journal of Integrative Medicine | 2019
An integrative intervention program for college musicians and kinematics in cello playing
Abstract
Abstract Introduction College musicians preparing for performing careers must sustain physical-mental fitness as deficiencies can cause pain and injury and compound stress and anxiety. An integrative intervention program was embedded in a college music course. Methods The program included yoga, physical therapy exercises, and mental fitness & improvisation practices. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 34 over six semesters. We assessed the effects of the program by comparing pre-post data of (1) physical strength-flexibility-endurance tests and (2) psychometrics containing health-practice inventory (HPI), physical-musical efficacy (PME), and mental fitness and improvisation (MFI). Nonparametric Paired Sample Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests were used to assess statistical significance of pre-post changes and Matched Pair Rank Biserial Correlation r was applied to demonstrate the effect size. (3) We observed kinematics of string players by plotting pre-post motion capture. Results Physical strength showed significant changes with left pectoral minor length (p\u202f=\u202f.01, r\u202f=\u202f.64) and deep neck flexor strength/endurance (p\u202f Conclusion College musicians’ integrative intervention program was effective with a modest postural change in our purposive sample (250).