In:
Medical Problems of Performing Artists, Science and Medicine, Inc., Vol. 34, No. 1 ( 2019-03-01), p. 33-38
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: Embouchure dystonia (EmD) is a variant of focal task-specific dystonia in musicians characterized by the loss of control in facial and oral muscles while controlling airflow into the mouthpiece of a wind or brass instrument. We compared tongue position variability (TPV) during
sustained notes between healthy, elite horn players and horn players affected by EmD. METHODS: Real-time MRI films at 33.3 ms resolution were obtained from 8 healthy elite and 5 EmD horn players as they performed on a non-ferromagnetic horn at each of three different dynamic levels: pianissimo, mezzo forte, and fortissimo. Nine profile lines (3 from anterior, 3 from middle, and 3 from posterior oral cavity regions) were overlaid on each image using a customized MATLAB toolkit, and the variability of the dorsal tongue edge position was examined at each dynamic from temporal intensity
profiles produced by MATLAB. RESULTS: Despite trends for more pronounced TPV (larger standard deviations) in the elite musicians (p=0.062), 2-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed no significant differences between groups. However, dynamic level significantly influenced TPV for all subjects, combined (p=0.048) and different regions of the oral cavity showed differing TPV (p 〈 0.001). When only the most active region (anterior oral cavity) was included in the model, differences between groups reached statistical significance (elite 〉 EmD, p 〈 0.048), particularly at the fortissimo
dynamic. We postulate that these differences may be due, in part, to a greater degree of generalized orofacial muscle tension in the EmD subjects that includes the tongue.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0885-1158
DOI:
10.21091/mppa.2019.1007
Language:
English
Publisher:
Science and Medicine, Inc.
Publication Date:
2019
Permalink
