Development of Photogrammetry Techniques to Investigate Musicians’ Posture (2022)

Musicians experience a higher prevalence of injury than non-musicians, with posture considered to be a significant contributing factor. Research on musician populations is limited, but posture has been widely studied elsewhere. This project addresses the gap by developing methodology to assess posture and provide feedback to help prevent injury and improve overall performance. Photogrammetry techniques commonly employed in athletics were used to analyze musicians’ posture while performing technical skills and musical excerpts. Results indicated differences in neutral vs. performing positions. The group average craniovertebral angle (CVA) of participants was (47.1 ± 6.79) degrees in neutral position compared to (37.1 ± 7.63) in playing their first note. A smaller CVA has been correlated with increased forward head posture, which is often observed in those with neck pain. Future steps include performing detailed analysis of postural alignment and position to examine potential relationships between observed posture, pain, and injury.