University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

0009-0001-2335-5926

Türk-Espitalier, Alexandra

Burzler, Matthias Alexander

2026-08-31T11:15:08Z

2026-08-31T11:15:08Z

2026-06-01

Trumpet playing requires precise embouchure, breath control, and postural support, engaging facial and respiratory muscles as well as muscles within the abdomen, thorax, and neck. Research on muscle activity during trumpet playing focuses mainly on embouchure and its involved facial muscles, whereas studies investigating torso muscles are scarce. METHODS: In this observational study, the activity of the abdominal, thoracal, and neck muscles of 24 male professional trumpet players between 20–45 years of age were measured with surface electromyography (sEMG) during playing. Electrodes were positioned on the m. rectus abdominis, m. obliquus externus, m. obliquus internus, mm. intercostales, m. pectoralis major, m. trapezius pars descendens, and m. sternocleidomastoideus. All participants played the same musical tasks. Markers were set at three representative places of expected low (G4) and high (B5 and C#6) activity. RESULTS: In the deep abdominal and intercostal muscles, activity was remarkably high during high and loud notes (m. obliquus internus: 94.91% (34.05) mean (SD), m. obliquus externus: 89.12% (36.74), mm. intercostales 85.24% (45.82) of MVIC during ff B5), whereas the m. rectus abdominis worked only with a medium effort of 57.99% (34.19) of MVIC during that same task. Muscle activity was significantly higher during high and loud notes than in low notes (p < 0.001). When comparing isolated with concatenated notes, smaller peak values of abdominal muscle activity were recorded in concatenated notes played in musical context than in isolated tones. Neck muscles also presented significant differences in activity between high and low notes, but with generally only a medium high activity throughout all measures and regardless of the playing task. CONCLUSION: This study provides valuable insights into the muscular demands of the torso and neck muscles during trumpet playing and can be beneficial for performers and trumpet pedagogues.

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Türk-Espitalier, A., & Burzler, M. A. (2026). Surface Electromyography Measures of Muscle Activity in the Abdomen, Thorax, and Neck in Professional Trumpet Players. Medical problems of performing artists, 41(2), 77–88. https://doi.org/10.21091/mppa.2026.02008

https://doi.org/10.21091/mppa.2026.02008

https://dspace.mdw.ac.at/handle/123456789/56052

en

Medical Problems of Performing Artists

CC-BY-4.0

trumpet performance

trumpet pedagogy

surface electromyography

muscle activity

abdominal muscles

thoracal muscles

neck muscles

Surface Electromyography Measures of Muscle Activity in the Abdomen, Thorax, and Neck in Professional Trumpet Players

text::journal::journal article::research article

Publication

2026-08-31T11:15:08.564Z

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yes

HUMANMEDIZIN, GESUNDHEITSWISSENSCHAFTEN - Klinische Medizin

100

88

2

77

41

University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

Universität Wien