Exercises and Performance Anxiety Among Young Instrumentalists.

The Effect of an Exercise Program Designed for Young Instrumentalists (Musicians) on Music Performance Anxiety

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of an original exercise program intended for students of the University of Music on dealing with stage fright and its psychophysical symptoms.

The study group covers students of a music university who play various musical instruments. Participants will be divided into the experimental and control groups. The study duration is scheduled to be 6 weeks. The control group will not have any intervention. The experimental group will undertake 45 mins exercise classes twice a week. Each exercise session will consist of an initial part (warm-up), a main part with exercises designed to strengthen the postural muscles and stretch the contracted muscle groups that are especially prone to pain in musicians (back and upper limbs), and a final part of calming and breathing exercises.

At the beginning and at the end of the study, participants of both groups will be asked to complete a Polish version of validated psychological questionnaires: Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory-Revised, Ogińska-Bulik's & Juczyński's Resiliency Assessment Scale (SPP-25), Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians of the Polish Population (MPIIQM-P) and one original questionnaire assessing the stress level before, during and after a performance. All participants will also undergo physical examination. A measurement of the range of motion of trunk flexion in standing (cm) and the algometric measurement of the pain threshold (kg/cm2) of selected back muscles (trapezius muscles, upper and lower and levator scapula) on the right and left sides of the body. Algometric measurements will be made using the Pain Test FPX algometer Algometer (Wagner).

Statistical analysis. The variables will be coded and analyzed using the STATISTICA program. Baseline demographics will be compared between groups (independent t-tests, chi-square tests). Two-way mixed-model analyses of variance (ANOVA) will explore the effect of the exercise program on symptoms and anxiety.

Inclusion Criteria:

• playing on a musical instrument for at least 5 years
• age 18 to 35
• consent to participate in the study
• participation in at least 8 meetings (exercise) within 6 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

• current (last 3 months) locomotor injuries (fractures, sprains, dislocations), medical contraindications to exercise, confirmed by a medical opinion
• neurological and oncological diseases confirmed by a medical diagnosis
• previous spine surgeries, scoliosis confirmed by radiograph (<10ᵒ Cobb)
• regular intake of muscle relaxants, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-depressants
• age under 18 or over 35
• no consent to participate in the study to participate in the study.