Christakou A1,2, Vasileiadis G3, Kapreli E3
1University of Western Attica, Physiotherapy Department, Athens, Greece, 2General Hospital of Athens “Evangelismos”, Athens, Greece, 3TEI of Sterea Ellada, Physiotherapy Department, Athens, Greece
Background: Playing- related musculoskeletal disorders of upper limb are inevitable especially in professional musicians
Purpose: The aim of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of motor imagery during non-physical practice periods of a pianist.
Methods: A 17-year-old healthy pianist participated in a single subject case study with a multiple baseline design (ABC design). Performance ability was assessed during a period of the non-use practice, then a period of performing motor imagery and again a period of another non-use practice. Participant's performance was assessed by overall technique and dynamics in performance (virtuosity) which was evaluated by an expert piano teacher using a Visual Analog Scale and objectively by the Synthesia software (0.8.3). Participant's anxiety, fatigue and overall psychological state were recorded before each trial using a Visual Analogue Scale. Thee participant's motor imagery ability was recorded by Movement Imagery Questionnaire.
Results: The pianist's performance ability had a reduction during non-use period although it was preserved at a steady level during motor imagery intervention. The pianist's scores moderately correlated with general psychological state. The Synthesia scoring presented high correlations with professional piano teacher scoring.
Conclusion(s): The present study shows that motor imagery reduces the skill loss over the period of non-practice. Additionally, motor control and motor learning mechanisms are probably activated during the process and the final performing result is highly, positively influenced. Synthesia seems to be a valid outcome measure that can be used for assessing music performance, although further research is needed.
Implications: Motor imagery probably acts as a deterrent in skill loss even if the subject doesn't exercise. New cognitive neurorehabilitative techniques may enhance performance maintenance during the period of time that musician is forced to discontinue his physical performance.
Keywords: Motor Imagery, Piano, Synthesia
Funding acknowledgements: Not funding
Purpose: The aim of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of motor imagery during non-physical practice periods of a pianist.
Methods: A 17-year-old healthy pianist participated in a single subject case study with a multiple baseline design (ABC design). Performance ability was assessed during a period of the non-use practice, then a period of performing motor imagery and again a period of another non-use practice. Participant's performance was assessed by overall technique and dynamics in performance (virtuosity) which was evaluated by an expert piano teacher using a Visual Analog Scale and objectively by the Synthesia software (0.8.3). Participant's anxiety, fatigue and overall psychological state were recorded before each trial using a Visual Analogue Scale. Thee participant's motor imagery ability was recorded by Movement Imagery Questionnaire.
Results: The pianist's performance ability had a reduction during non-use period although it was preserved at a steady level during motor imagery intervention. The pianist's scores moderately correlated with general psychological state. The Synthesia scoring presented high correlations with professional piano teacher scoring.
Conclusion(s): The present study shows that motor imagery reduces the skill loss over the period of non-practice. Additionally, motor control and motor learning mechanisms are probably activated during the process and the final performing result is highly, positively influenced. Synthesia seems to be a valid outcome measure that can be used for assessing music performance, although further research is needed.
Implications: Motor imagery probably acts as a deterrent in skill loss even if the subject doesn't exercise. New cognitive neurorehabilitative techniques may enhance performance maintenance during the period of time that musician is forced to discontinue his physical performance.
Keywords: Motor Imagery, Piano, Synthesia
Funding acknowledgements: Not funding
Topic: Musculoskeletal: upper limb; Disability & rehabilitation
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: TEI of Sterea Ellada
Ethics committee: Research Ethics Committee of Physiotherapy Department, TEI of Sterea Ellada
Ethics number: 160/10-2-2012
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
