INFLUENCE OF FELDENKRAIS METHOD ON SPINE HEALTHIN PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRAL MUSICIANS. PILOT STUDY/INFLUENZA DEL METODO FELDENKRAIS SULLA SALUTEDEL RACHIDE IN MUSICISTI ORCHESTRALIPROFESSIONISTI. STUDIO PILOTA

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore whether FeldenkraisMethod was useful for improving muscular flexibility and reducing backpain in professional orchestral musicians.Materials and methods: Seventeen participants were recruited from asymphony orchestra of Palermo (Italy) and randomly divided in a controlgroup (C, n=8) and a Feldenkrais group (F, n=9). The first didn’t participatein the Feldenkrais protocol and any other physical activity; while the secondtook part into a program consisting of four Awareness through movement(ATM) classes performed 2 hours/week for 4 weeks. In order to assessmuscle fitness of spine, we used sit-and-reach and trunk lift test. Thedifferences within each group and between C and F groups were respectivelyexamined with Wilcoxon matched pair test and Mann-Whitney test; andconsidered significant with p≤0.05.Results: The muscular flexibility of hamstring and low back, and trunkextensor strength, flexibility and endurance slightly increased in F groupcompared with C group after Feldenkrais protocol even if this variation wasnot statistically significant. Differently, C group showed a reduction by 5%in both tests after 4 weeks. After Feldenkrais protocol, height of F group wassignificantly bigger than before treatment. Moreover, we found that thenumber of participants, who stated to have strong and frequent pain in theback and limbs, decreased during performing the Feldenkrais protocol. Thiseffect was bigger in the cervical than lumbar spine and upper limbs.Conclusion: Our outcomes illustrate that Feldenkrais method has positiveeffects on muscle flexibility and supports the use of this method fordissolving muscle tensions and contractions that can cause pain inprofessional orchestral musicians.