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Incoordination in pianists with overuse syndrome
H J Fry1, M Hallett, T Mastroianni
1Bethesda Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
Neurology
|August 26, 1998
Summary
Pianists with overuse syndrome exhibit impaired motor control and coordination disturbances in their arms and hands. This study quantifies performance deficits and confirms distinct differences compared to healthy musicians.
Area of Science:
- Music performance science
- Neurology
- Sports medicine
Background:
- Musculoligamentous overuse syndrome is common in pianists.
- Claims suggest a link between overuse and motor control deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate motor control loss in pianists with overuse syndrome.
- To quantitatively analyze performance differences between affected and unaffected pianists.
Main Methods:
- Studied 18 pianists with overuse syndrome and 22 controls.
- Analyzed key press duration, interval, velocity, and timing accuracy.
- Evaluated skill-based errors and used a listening panel for performance assessment.
Main Results:
- Significant performance differences were observed between groups.
- A classification tree achieved high sensitivity (0.886) and specificity (0.862) in identifying affected hands.
- Pianists with overuse syndrome made more skill-based errors, and a listening panel could differentiate affected hands.
Conclusions:
- Pianists with overuse syndrome demonstrate a distinct coordination disturbance.
- Quantitative analysis and expert listening confirm performance deficits.