Effects of dexterity training program on fine motor skills, grip and pinch strength, and performance in keyboard players.

Study Title : Effects Of Dexterity Training Program On Fine motor Skills, Grip and Pinch Strength and Performance in Keyboard Players : An Intervention Study

Introduction : Musicians who play instruments require repetitive actions to perform high speed movement for which it is essential to develop force, speed and coordination. While playing keyboard, smaller distal muscle groups are required to fine tune the sound, while larger proximal muscle groups produce the basic sound which involves good finger dexterity. Manual dexterity is the ability to use hands in a skillful, coordinated way to grasp and manipulate objects and demonstrate small, precise movements. The muscles used are the same, with the grip movement requiring complex and highly coordinated actions involving many muscles crossing one or more joints. While playing the Keyboard, the positioning and timing of the fingers on the keyboard while reading a musical score are critical. In order to play an instrument, the musician must have adequate muscle strength, flexibility and endurance.

Need for study : Why Dexterity? Because grip strength plays an important role in the coordinated action of finger flexor and extensor and their interplay. The purpose of the study is to find out whether dexterity training improves the performance of keyboard players by working on the fine motor skills.

Aim : To find out the effects of dexterity training program on fine motor skills, grip and pinch strength and performance in keyboard players.

Objectives : 1.To assess the effects of dexterity training program on fine motor skills, grip and pinch strength and performance in keyboard players.

2.To assess the effects of routine keyboard training on fine motor skills, grip and pinch strength and performance in keyboard players.

3.To compare both the groups.

Methodology :

Study Design - Intervention study

Study Type - Comparative study

Study Population - keyboard players

Sampling Method - Convenient Sampling

Sample size - 42  (Group A – 21, Group B – 21)

Duration of study - 6 months

Setting for research work - Music Training Academy

Inclusion criteria : 1.Keyboard players with at least 6 months of experience and practicing 2 – 3 times per week.

2.Candidates whose main instrument is the keyboard

3.Keyboard players whose age is 10 – 17 years

4.Both male and female keyboard players

Exclusion criteria : 1.Professional keyboard players

2.Keyboard players with any musculoskeletal disorders, pain or surgery in the past 6 months.

Outcome Measures : 1.Metronome - To assess performance

2.Nine hole peg test - To assess fine motor skills

3.Hand grip dynamometer - To assess grip strength

4.Pinch grip dynamometer - To assess grip strength

Procedure : 1.Ethical Approval and CTRI Registration was done

2.Screening of the participants was done

3.Consent of the participants was taken

4.Outcome Measures were assessed

5.Intervention was carried out and Outcome Measures were reassessed

6.Statistical Analysis was done

Intervention : Warm Up Exercises : (Dosage - 1 Set of 10 Repetitions each)

 

1.Shoulder Flexion

2.Shoulder Abduction

3.Shoulder Retraction

4.Shoulder Shrugs

5.Shoulder Rotations

6.Elbow Flexion – Extension

7.Wrist Flexion – Extension

8.Wrist Radial Deviation – Ulnar Deviation

9.Palms Up – Palms Down

Dexterity Training : (Dosage - 3 Sets of 10 Repetitions)

1st week (1 - 3 sessions)

1.Finger spread

2.Finger curls

3.Finger lifts (individual)

4.Thumb abduction

5.Thumb flexion - extension

6.Thumb roll

7.Thumb Os

8.Claw stretch

9.Forming a fist

2nd Week (4 – 6 sessions) Along with 1st week exercises

1.In hand translation exercise - picking up objects (marbles)

2.Squeezing a soft ball

3.Working with clay (squeezing and rolling the dough back and forth

4.Finger lifts (individual) with manual resistance and hold for 5 seconds

3rd week (7 – 9 sessions) Along with 1st and 2nd week exercises

1.Proximal Interphalangeal joint blocking exercise

2.Distal Interphalangeal joint blocking exercise

3.Tendon gliding exercise

4.Reverse blocking exercise

5.Flexor digitorum superficialis gliding exercise

        

Cool Down Exercises : (3 sets each with 10 seconds hold)

 

1.Raising Arms Overhead

2.Mill’s  stretch

3.Reverse Mill’s stretch

4.Forearm Pronators stretch

5.Prayer stretch

6.Reverse Prayer stretching

7.Finger locked lateral stretch