Effects of hand span size and right-left hand side on the piano playing performances: Exploration of the potential risk factors with regard to piano-related musculoskeletal disorders

摘要

This study used biomechanical techniques to objectively investigate the effects of the size of hand span and right/left hands on the kinematic and kinetic performances when playing the piano. Twenty pianists were recruited and assigned to two hand-size groups. The parameters of interest, such as ratio of maximal digit-to-digit abduction angle (RD-D-abd), range of motion (ROM) of finger and wrist flexion-extension (F/E), radial-ulnar deviation (R/U), and movement units of F/E of finger joints (MUF/E), were measured while striking the piano keys. The fingertip force was also estimated by a kinetic model. The RD-D-abd was significantly larger for the small hand-span pianists when playing both chords and octaves. The ROM of wrist F/E was significantly larger for small hand-span pianists when playing chords. There was no significant difference in the fingertip force between two groups. However, the values for MUF/E and fingertip force of the right hand were significantly larger than those of left hand. Pianists with a small hand-span should aware that they have higher exposure risks for hand injuries while playing the piano.