The Flexible Trombonist

Andrew Macleod

Name: Andrew Macleod Main Subject: Classical Tenor Trombone Research Supervisor: Caroline Kang Title: The Flexible Trombonist Research Question: How can yoga be used as a tool to prevent injury and promote ease in brass playing? Yoga has established itself as an effective tool to reduce anxiety, increase breath control, and strengthen the body. The classical music profession being an industry where physical demands are high it is no surprise that ‘playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMD) are prevalent. This research investigates the effectiveness of regular practice of yoga at reducing pain and tension in brass playing with an aim towards reducing the risks of PRMD’s. To carry out this research a combination of a case study, interviews, self-experimentation, and reviewing existing literature was used. The case study included a mixture of seven collegiate and graduate level brass musicians who implemented yoga into their practice routine over the course of two weeks. The participants completed three surveys and two practice diaries which monitored the success of yoga at reducing pain and tension in their practice. The outcome of the case study presented positive results in support of the correlation between the practice of yoga and reduced pain/tension in brass playing. This was supported in the self-experimentation and reflection. The interviews reinforced this connection however highlighted that yoga is not the only solution available. Through analysis of existing material on this subject, it is clear that further research would be beneficial. The issue of PRMD still exists in the music profession and this research offers an initial insight into effective methods of injury prevention and awareness. More research on this subject would reduce the likelihood of career-ending injury and encourage a holistic practice of brass playing.

Week 1:

Chapter 4: Case Study - Conclusion

Final Survey

The participants have now completed their two weeks of daily practice. Until now they filled out two BodyMap surveys which highlighted the body parts experiencing the most tension during the week. They practised 5 - 10 minute yoga sequences every day for two weeks whilst documenting what specific asana poses and pranayama exercises were performed each day in their yoga practice diary. General comments on the impact of daily yoga practice were also included. Now that their two weeks of yoga have come to an end, the participants were asked to complete one last BodyMap (Figure 2.24) to determine their pain/tension/discomfort levels following the daily yoga practice alongside some questions about yoga in the music curriculum and its potential as a form of injury treatment/prevention. The results of this final survey are presented below:

Asana Exercises:

The results of this question reveal that outside the practise room, benefits from regular yoga practise can be felt by the majority of participants. These included increased energy, relaxation, and an enhanced awareness of posture throughout the day. Two of the participants reported either feeling no effects outside the practise room or being unsure.

Conclusion:

The aim of this Case Study was to determine which body parts are most affected by pain, tension or discomfort for brass playing musicians and to measure how effective yoga can be as a method of reducing these impacts on the body. It should be noted that this case study only represents seven participants and their data.

From the data collated throughout the case study the shoulders are concluded to be the body part that consistently experiences pain/tension/discomfort having scored highest in number of selections across the majority of participants in two of the three BodyMaps. From the group of participants, four reported experiencing pre-existing injury - all including the shoulders in this category. The lower back scored high throughout, and was the highest scoring in the final BodyMap. In conclusion, the shoulders and lower back proved to be the body parts experiencing pain/tension/discomfort by the most participants across the case study. The progression of results are shown below:

Through observing the change of results between each week of the case study, we are able to answer our second question - ‘how effective is yoga as a method of reducing pain/tension/discomfort in brass musicians?’. Having determined that the shoulders experience pain/tension/discomfort across the highest number of participants, the decreasing number of votes for the shoulders experiencing pain/tension/discomfort across the course of the case study suggests that yoga can be an effective method of reducing these symptoms.

When considering yoga in the wider category of injury prevention, this case study has presented data that supports yoga as a method of assisting and enhancing injury prevention. Individual progress from all of the participants who suffered pre-existing injuries was recorded as a result of regular yoga practice and all participants agreed that yoga could be effective at supporting injury recovery and prevention.

Therefore, taking into account the results from this case study and that a small group of participants were used the following conclusions can be made. The data collated makes clear that yoga can be effective as a tool to aid injury prevention through its ability to heighten body awareness and reduce tension. However, it should not be used in isolation.

Standing:

Twisting

Pranayama:

Participants were then asked to select their favourite standing, bending, twisting and balance asana and pranayama exercise they practised during the case study (Figure 2.27-31):

The participants were in unanimous agreement that yoga should be included in the music curriculum. Interestingly, references to other forms of movement modalities such as Alexander Technique were suggested as alternative additions to the curriculum. This suggests an interest in holistic pedagogy for this group.

Figure 2.36

Figure 2.27

Figure 2.31

Figure 2.29

Figure 2.32

Figure 2.26

Figure 2.24

Figure 2.34

Week 2:

Figure 2.37

From the results displayed in the column graph (Figure 2.24), we can see that the body part with the highest number of selections as an area of pain/tension/discomfort is the lower back with four votes which stayed the same from week 1. When comparing these results with week 1, the shoulders are no longer the most selected body part and have reduced by 4 votes in the left shoulder and three votes in the right shoulder. This demonstrates a breakthrough in the effectiveness of yoga at relieveing pain/tension/discomfort in the shoulders as they had consistently been the most selected body part until now. A breakdown of each body parts selection between the beginning and end of the case study can be see below (Figure 2.25):

Overall, the BodyMap recorded a decrease of fourteen votes across nine body parts as an area of pain/tension/discomfort from the first week. Nine body parts recorded an increase of one vote and fourteen body parts received the same amount of votes as the first week. Although there are an equal number of body parts reporting an increase and decrease in votes, the amount they decreased by was higher. This is reinforced when comparing the total number of votes from the beginning week one - 43 and the end of week two - 38. This proves that pain/tension/discomfort is felt in less body parts now across the participants since the beginning of the case study.

Every participant that experienced some form of pain/tension/discomfort reported a positive change as a result of the case study (Figure 2.26). Areas of improvement mentioned included less tension, heightened awareness of body position/posture, and quicker recovery time after intense periods of practice.

Bending:

The general response to this question indicates that yoga is seen an effective method of reducing tension in brass playing, however it is seen as benefial in aiding recovery rather than an effective method on its own. It is important to note that this view is established in connection with the opinion that it should not be used in isolation. This conclusion is shared and reinforced by Austin Pancner in the interview in Chapter 2.

From the seven participants, six stated that they would continue yoga in some form alongside their studies. The remaining participant expressed a desire to continue but was uncertain due to busy scheduling.