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° ± 7.8°; non-musicians = 45.3° ± 10.8°; p<0.05), and significantly increased lumbar lordosis (accordionists, median ± IQ distance = 55.5° ± 30.6°; nonmusicians = 39.0° ± 3.9°; 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.