Patterns of pain location in music students: a cluster analysis

Table 3 Descriptive statistics of variables associated with the playing of musical instruments

Variable	n	%
Instrument [classification] (n = 340)
Elevated both frontal	28	8.2%
Elevated both left	65	19.1%
Elevated left	28	8.2%
Elevated right	50	14.7%
Neutral	132	38.8%
Voice	37	11.0%
Years of practice (n = 340)
Median	13
Range	6–34
Hours of practice per day (n = 340)
Median	3
Range	3–8
Perceived exertion after 45 min of practice without breaks (n = 340)
Median	5
Range	0–10
Preparatory exercises (n = 340)
Yes	149	43.8%
No	191	56.2%
Breaks during practice (n = 340)
Yes	210	61.8%
No	130	38.2%

Elevated both frontal: Music students playing musical instruments with both arms elevated in a frontal position (i.e. harp, trombone, and trumpet); Elevated both left: Music students playing musical instruments with both arms elevated in the left quadrant position (i.e. viola, violin); Elevated left: Music students playing musical instruments with only the left arm elevated (i.e. cello, double bass); Elevated right: Music students playing musical instruments with only the right arm elevated (i.e. flute, guitar); Neutral: Music students playing musical instruments in a neutral position, without the elevation of arms (i.e. accordion, bassoon, clarinet, euphonium/tuba; French horn, harpsicord, oboe, organ, percussion, piano, recorder, saxophone)

ISSN: 1471-2474