TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of hand span size and right-left hand side on the piano playing performances
T2 - Exploration of the potential risk factors with regard to piano-related musculoskeletal disorders
AU - Lai, Kuan Yin
AU - Wu, Shyi Kuen
AU - Jou, I. Ming
AU - Hsu, Hsiao Man
AU - Chen Sea, Mei Jin
AU - Kuo, Li Chieh
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors are honored to acknowledge the National Science Council of TAIWAN for funding this work ( NSC 98-2320-B-006 -003 -MY3 ). Special thanks also go to Mr. Cheng Cheng-Chun for his kind help with regard to the setting up the equipment used in this study.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2015/11/1
Y1 - 2015/11/1
N2 - This study used biomechanical techniques to objectively investigate the effects of the size of hand span and right/left hands on the kinematic and kinetic performances when playing the piano. Twenty pianists were recruited and assigned to two hand-size groups. The parameters of interest, such as ratio of maximal digit-to-digit abduction angle (RD-Dabd), range of motion (ROM) of finger and wrist flexion-extension (F/E), radial-ulnar deviation (R/U), and movement units of F/E of finger joints (MUF/E), were measured while striking the piano keys. The fingertip force was also estimated by a kinetic model. The RD-Dabd was significantly larger for the small hand-span pianists when playing both chords and octaves. The ROM of wrist F/E was significantly larger for small hand-span pianists when playing chords. There was no significant difference in the fingertip force between two groups. However, the values for MUF/E and fingertip force of the right hand were significantly larger than those of left hand. Pianists with a small hand-span should aware that they have higher exposure risks for hand injuries while playing the piano. Relevance to industry: Hand anthropometric issue might be one of potential risk factors which result in piano-related musculoskeletal disorders. This study provides preliminary evidence that can be used to aid in injury prevention and music education for pianists as well as to reconsider issues with regard to the piano design.
AB - This study used biomechanical techniques to objectively investigate the effects of the size of hand span and right/left hands on the kinematic and kinetic performances when playing the piano. Twenty pianists were recruited and assigned to two hand-size groups. The parameters of interest, such as ratio of maximal digit-to-digit abduction angle (RD-Dabd), range of motion (ROM) of finger and wrist flexion-extension (F/E), radial-ulnar deviation (R/U), and movement units of F/E of finger joints (MUF/E), were measured while striking the piano keys. The fingertip force was also estimated by a kinetic model. The RD-Dabd was significantly larger for the small hand-span pianists when playing both chords and octaves. The ROM of wrist F/E was significantly larger for small hand-span pianists when playing chords. There was no significant difference in the fingertip force between two groups. However, the values for MUF/E and fingertip force of the right hand were significantly larger than those of left hand. Pianists with a small hand-span should aware that they have higher exposure risks for hand injuries while playing the piano. Relevance to industry: Hand anthropometric issue might be one of potential risk factors which result in piano-related musculoskeletal disorders. This study provides preliminary evidence that can be used to aid in injury prevention and music education for pianists as well as to reconsider issues with regard to the piano design.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ergon.2015.09.011
DO - 10.1016/j.ergon.2015.09.011
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84942564247
SN - 0169-8141
VL - 50
SP - 97
EP - 104
JO - International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
JF - International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
ER -
