Prolonged use of wind or brass instruments does not alter lung function in musicians

Purpose: Respiratory function impacts on musical expression for wind/brass (W/B) musicians. Investigation of musicians’ respiratory health to date has rarely progressed further than assessments of flow limitation through spirometry. This study aimed to compare W/B musicians’ respiratory function to...

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Main Authors: Fuhrmann, A., Franklin, P., Hall, Graham
Format: Journal Article
Published: Elsevier Ltd 2011
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/54886
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author Fuhrmann, A.
Franklin, P.
Hall, Graham
author_facet Fuhrmann, A.
Franklin, P.
Hall, Graham
author_sort Fuhrmann, A.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Purpose: Respiratory function impacts on musical expression for wind/brass (W/B) musicians. Investigation of musicians’ respiratory health to date has rarely progressed further than assessments of flow limitation through spirometry. This study aimed to compare W/B musicians’ respiratory function to a non-wind/brass (NW/B) group with a comprehensive respiratory function assessment. Methods: Non-smoking, non-asthmatic participants aged 18–60 years completed a respiratory health questionnaire followed by spirometry, static lung volumes, respiratory mechanics, using forced oscillations, gas transfer and airway responsiveness (AR). Measurements were compared between participant groups using T-tests and linear regression modelling. Results: Data from 102 participants (55 W/B musicians and 47 NW/B subjects) were included in the analysis. There were no differences between the two groups for any spirometry or lung volume outcomes, with the exception of RV/TLC which was decreased among W/B musicians (p = 0.03). Measures of gas transfer and AR were similar between participant groups. Resistance at 6 Hz, measured by forced oscillation, was increased among W/B musicians compared to NW/B musicians (p = 0.02) but reactance at 6 Hz was similar between the groups (p = 0.10). Conclusions: The results suggest that W/B musicians’ do not have altered respiratory function when compared to a non-musical control group. However, increased Rrs6 may indicate inflammatory, remodelling or other pathophysiological processes associated with W/B playing. Although the difference between groups was small it warrants further investigation.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-548862017-09-29T06:10:00Z Prolonged use of wind or brass instruments does not alter lung function in musicians Fuhrmann, A. Franklin, P. Hall, Graham Purpose: Respiratory function impacts on musical expression for wind/brass (W/B) musicians. Investigation of musicians’ respiratory health to date has rarely progressed further than assessments of flow limitation through spirometry. This study aimed to compare W/B musicians’ respiratory function to a non-wind/brass (NW/B) group with a comprehensive respiratory function assessment. Methods: Non-smoking, non-asthmatic participants aged 18–60 years completed a respiratory health questionnaire followed by spirometry, static lung volumes, respiratory mechanics, using forced oscillations, gas transfer and airway responsiveness (AR). Measurements were compared between participant groups using T-tests and linear regression modelling. Results: Data from 102 participants (55 W/B musicians and 47 NW/B subjects) were included in the analysis. There were no differences between the two groups for any spirometry or lung volume outcomes, with the exception of RV/TLC which was decreased among W/B musicians (p = 0.03). Measures of gas transfer and AR were similar between participant groups. Resistance at 6 Hz, measured by forced oscillation, was increased among W/B musicians compared to NW/B musicians (p = 0.02) but reactance at 6 Hz was similar between the groups (p = 0.10). Conclusions: The results suggest that W/B musicians’ do not have altered respiratory function when compared to a non-musical control group. However, increased Rrs6 may indicate inflammatory, remodelling or other pathophysiological processes associated with W/B playing. Although the difference between groups was small it warrants further investigation. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/54886 10.1016/j.rmed.2011.01.017 Elsevier Ltd unknown
spellingShingle Fuhrmann, A.
Franklin, P.
Hall, Graham
Prolonged use of wind or brass instruments does not alter lung function in musicians
title Prolonged use of wind or brass instruments does not alter lung function in musicians
title_full Prolonged use of wind or brass instruments does not alter lung function in musicians
title_fullStr Prolonged use of wind or brass instruments does not alter lung function in musicians
title_full_unstemmed Prolonged use of wind or brass instruments does not alter lung function in musicians
title_short Prolonged use of wind or brass instruments does not alter lung function in musicians
title_sort prolonged use of wind or brass instruments does not alter lung function in musicians
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/54886