Effect of Playing Musical Wind Instrument on Expiratory Strength in High-school Male Students

Abstract

In practicing with the wind instrument, the player has to exhale air to pass the valve in the instrument.Such mechanism resembles expiratory muscle training by resistive expiration devices. Previous study demonstratedthat expiratory muscle trained by resistive breathing devices increased the expiratory muscle strength.

The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of playing musical wind instrument onexpiratory muscle strength in male high-school students. The study population comprised of 60 Thai male studentmembers of marching bands from six high schools. The participants were divided into two groups: wind instrumentplayer group and non › wind instrument player group, numbered 30 subjects each. All subjects were subjected tomaximal expiratory pressure (MEP) measurement using mouth pressure meter and to pulmonary function test forforced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), % FEV₁/FVC by spirometry.

Findings showed statistically significant difference of MEP between the student group practicing windinstrument and the non › wind instrument player group (p<0.05) while the difference of FVC, FEV₁, % FEV₁/FVC between the two groups were not statistically significant. MEP was not significantly correlated with FVC,FEV₁ and % FEV₁/FVC. The length of period practiced was a significant factor positively correlated with MEP.

The study concluded that wind instrument players gain maximal expiratory pressure more than non - windinstrument players. Thus musical instrument application or similar devices can be employed for training patientsdaily over two hours/day may be using in improving expiratory muscle strength.

Key words: musical wind instrument, expiratory muscle strength