MedPath

Exercises and Performance Anxiety Among Young Instrumentalists.

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Musculoskeletal Pain
Performance Anxiety
Interventions
Other: Physical Exercises
Registration Number
NCT05640557
Lead Sponsor
Anna Cygańska
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of an original exercise program intended for students of the University of Music on dealing with stage fright and its psychophysical symptoms.

Detailed Description

The study group covers students of a music university who play various musical instruments. Participants will be divided into the experimental and control groups. The study duration is scheduled to be 6 weeks. The control group will not have any intervention. The experimental group will undertake 45 mins exercise classes twice a week. Each exercise session will consist of an initial part (warm-up), a main part with exercises designed to strengthen the postural muscles and stretch the contracted muscle groups that are especially prone to pain in musicians (back and upper limbs), and a final part of calming and breathing exercises.

At the beginning and at the end of the study, participants of both groups will be asked to complete a Polish version of validated psychological questionnaires: Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory-Revised, Ogińska-Bulik's \& Juczyński's Resiliency Assessment Scale (SPP-25), Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians of the Polish Population (MPIIQM-P) and one original questionnaire assessing the stress level before, during and after a performance. All participants will also undergo physical examination. A measurement of the range of motion of trunk flexion in standing (cm) and the algometric measurement of the pain threshold (kg/cm2) of selected back muscles (trapezius muscles, upper and lower and levator scapula) on the right and left sides of the body. Algometric measurements will be made using the Pain Test FPX algometer Algometer (Wagner).

Statistical analysis. The variables will be coded and analyzed using the STATISTICA program. Baseline demographics will be compared between groups (independent t-tests, chi-square tests). Two-way mixed-model analyses of variance (ANOVA) will explore the effect of the exercise program on symptoms and anxiety.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria
  • playing on a musical instrument for at least 5 years
  • age 18 to 35
  • consent to participate in the study
  • participation in at least 8 meetings (exercise) within 6 weeks
Exclusion Criteria
  • current (last 3 months) locomotor injuries (fractures, sprains, dislocations), medical contraindications to exercise, confirmed by a medical opinion
  • neurological and oncological diseases confirmed by a medical diagnosis
  • previous spine surgeries, scoliosis confirmed by radiograph (<10ᵒ Cobb)
  • regular intake of muscle relaxants, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-depressants
  • age under 18 or over 35
  • no consent to participate in the study to participate in the study.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Experimental groupPhysical ExercisesThe participants of the study will take part in exercises (proprietary exercise program), 2 times per week, 45 minutes, for 6 weeks. They will be measured before and after the 6-week exercise program.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Pain InterferenceChange between Baseline and post-treatment, 6 weeks

The Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for professional orchestra Musicians of the Polish Population (MPIIQM-P); from 0 to 50, the higher the score, the greater the pain interference;

Anxiety level - totalBefore starting the study

Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory - Certified Polish translation; the total score in the questionnaire shows the strength of stage fright; the higher the score, the greater the stage fright; from 0 to 240;

Anxiety level - specific psychological predispositions (SPP)Change between Baseline and post-treatment, 6 weeks

Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory - Certified Polish translation; the higher the score, the worse the specific psychological predispositions; from 0 to 96;

Pain IntensityChange between Baseline and post-treatment, 6 weeks

The Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for professional orchestra Musicians of the Polish Population (MPIIQM-P); from 0 to 40, the higher the score, the greater the pain intensity;

Anxiety level - biological predisposition (BP)Change between Baseline and post-treatment, 6 weeks

Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory - Certified Polish translation; the higher the score, the worse the biological predisposition; from 0 to 30;

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Resilience levelBefore starting the study

The Polish Version of the Resilience Scale 25; The higher the score obtained on the scale, the higher it is resilience is presented by the person completing the questionnaire (from 0 to 100; 0-65 - means low resilience, 66-77 - means medium resilience, and 78-100 means high resilience);

Changes in algometric measurementsChange between Baseline and post-treatment, 6 weeks

The algometric measurement concerns the assessment of muscle pressure sensitivity - pain threshold in kg/cm2 made using the Pain Test FPX Algometer (Wagner).

Anxiety level - general psychological predisposition (GPP)Before starting the study

Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory - Certified Polish translation; the higher the score, the worse the general psychological predisposition; from 0 to 114;

Flexibility levelChange between Baseline and post-treatment, 6 weeks

Trunk flexion assessment in standing in centimeters

Anxiety level during last performanceChange between Baseline and post-treatment, 6 weeks

Authors own questionnaire; the higher the score, the greater the stage fright; from 5 to 30;

Assessment of exercises an programAfter 6 weeks of exercise program

Authors own questionnaire; the higher the score, the higher the rating of the original exercise program; from16 to 96;

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw

🇵🇱

Warsaw, Poland

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath