Pain and Posture of Children and Adolescents Who Learn the Accordion as Compared with Non-Musician Students

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the effect of practicing the accordion on pain and posture of children and adolescent students. METHODS: Pain and posture (forward head posture, scapular posture, and lumbar lordosis) were compared between two groups of preparatory and secondary school students, matched for age and sex: those who took accordion lessons (accordionists, n=16) and those who never studied a musical instrument (non-musicians, n=16). RESULTS: Students taking accordion lessons reported significantly more pain in the shoulder, wrist/hand, and thoracic regions (p < 0.05), showed significantly more forward head posture (accordionists, median +/- interquartile distance [IQ] distance = 35.6 degrees +/- 7.8 degrees; non-musicians = 45.3 degrees +/- 10.8 degrees; p < 0.05), and significantly increased lumbar lordosis (accordionists, median +/- IQ distance = 55.5 degrees +/- 30.6 degrees; non-musicians = 39.0 degrees +/- 3.9 degrees; p < 0.05). No significant differences were found for scapular posture between groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that children and adolescents who play the accordion have an increased forward head posture and lumbar lordosis and a tendency to report more pain than children and adolescents who do not play a musical instrument. Results corroborate the need for including healthy preventive teaching-learning strategies at music conservatoires.