Jakub Szczechowicz

Background/Objective: Playing-related musculoskeletal disorders are highly prevalent among bowed string musicians and may impair performance and career longevity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of motor control-based interventions on pain, functional outcomes, range of motion, and neuromuscular parameters in musicians playing bowed string instruments. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched from inception to October 2025, and the search was updated before resubmission to identify any newly published eligible studies. Eligibility screening, full-text assessment, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment were independently verified by a second reviewer. Risk of bias was assessed according to study design using RoB 2 for the randomized controlled trial and ROBINS-I for non-randomized interventional studies. Results: Four interventional studies met the inclusion criteria. Three studies reported improvements in pain-related outcomes or PRMD severity, and three reported improvements in functional outcomes. One study demonstrated improved cervical range of motion, whereas one study reported altered shoulder girdle muscle activation patterns with reduced playing comfort. Overall, the certainty of the available evidence was limited by small sample sizes, non-randomized designs, and risk of bias. Conclusions: Limited evidence suggests that motor control-based interventions may be associated with improvements in pain and playing-related function in bowed string musicians; however, the evidence base remains small and methodologically heterogeneous, and conclusions should be interpreted with caution.

Objective: Playing an instrument is a significant part of a violinist’s life. Daily, they are exposed to specific, forced positions of the upper limbs while playing. Any injuries or overloading of the musculoskeletal system can adversely affect their ability to perform their profession or pursue their passion for playing the violin. The aim of this study was to determine the ranges of motion of selected upper limb joints in violinists during violin playing. A deeper understanding of the biomechanics of playing the instrument can contribute to the development of increasingly effective rehabilitation protocols, facilitate preventive measures, and support the maintenance of musicians’ health and well-being. Material and methods: Twenty-two violinists were recorded while performing a three-octave G-major scale. After selecting appropriate frames, an assessment of selected ranges of motion was conducted using the Angulus application. Results: The ranges of motion achieved by violinists largely depend on their adopted playing technique. The greatest range of motion amplitude was observed in the sagittal plane in the shoulder joint and wrist joint of the bow-holding upper limb, as well as in the sagittal plane of the wrist joint of the violin-holding upper limb. The smallest ranges of motion were observed in the horizontal plane of the shoulder joint of the bow-holding upper limb and in the sagittal plane of the shoulder joint of the violin-holding upper limb. Conclusions: Violinists work on average within the following ranges of motion: in the shoulder joint of the bow-holding upper limb: S: 0-15-87, F: 74-19-0, T: 0-47-63; in the elbow joint: S: 0-39-95; in the wrist joint: S: 34-0-35, F: 19-0-2. For the violin-holding upper limb, the ranges were: in the shoulder joint: S: 0-31-38, F: 22-6-0; in the elbow joint: S: 0-96-106; in the wrist joint: S: 17-0-25.

Introduction. Falls, impacts, or other types of injuries can result in fractures of the metacarpal bones, which is a common issue requiring an individualized treatment approach.