Surface Electromyography Measures of Muscle Activity in the Abdomen, Thorax, and Neck in Professional Trumpet Players.

Abstract

Background: Trumpet playing requires precise embouchure, breath control, and postural support, engaging facial and respiratory muscles as well as muscles within the abdomen, thorax, and neck. Research on muscle activity during trumpet playing focuses mainly on embouchure and its involved facial muscles, whereas studies investigating torso muscles are scarce.

Methods: In this observational study, the activity of the abdominal, thoracal, and neck muscles of 24 male professional trumpet players between 20-45 years of age were measured with surface electromyography (sEMG) during playing. Electrodes were positioned on the m. rectus abdominis, m. obliquus externus, m. obliquus internus, mm. intercostales, m. pectoralis major, m. trapezius pars descendens, and m. sternocleidomastoideus. All participants played the same musical tasks. Markers were set at three representative places of expected low (G4) and high (B5 and C#6) activity.

Results: In the deep abdominal and intercostal muscles, activity was remarkably high during high and loud notes (m. obliquus internus: 94.91% (34.05) mean (SD), m. obliquus externus: 89.12% (36.74), mm. intercostales 85.24% (45.82) of MVIC during ff B5), whereas the m. rectus abdominis worked only with a medium effort of 57.99% (34.19) of MVIC during that same task. Muscle activity was significantly higher during high and loud notes than in low notes (p < 0.001). When comparing isolated with concatenated notes, smaller peak values of abdominal muscle activity were recorded in concatenated notes played in musical context than in isolated tones. Neck muscles also presented significant differences in activity between high and low notes, but with generally only a medium high activity throughout all measures and regardless of the playing task.

Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the muscular demands of the torso and neck muscles during trumpet playing and can be beneficial for performers and trumpet pedagogues.