NCT07448857

Kinematics and Muscle Activation of Scapula in Upper String Players With Neck Pain

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Non-specific Neck Pain in Upper String Musicians

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	motion capture system, surface electromyography	Arm elevation (0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°), open string playing, scale practice, and musical piece performance

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-03-12
• Primary completion: 2026-09-30
• Completion: 2026-12-31
• First posted: 2026-03-04
• Last updated: 2026-03-04

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Taiwan