Strengthening the stage: intervention targeting muscular weakening in performing arts students

Background and Study Aim. Performing arts students, particularly musicians, face significant physical strain because of prolonged static postures and repetitive fine motor activity. These factors predispose them to performance-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs). Despite increasing awareness, preventive training programs are rarely implemented in music education. This study examined the effects of a 6-week targeted intervention on postural muscle function in male performing arts students. The focus was on muscles commonly weakened by instrumental practice: deep neck flexors, musculus abdominis, and lower scapular stabilizers. Materials and Methods. Twenty-six full-time male music students were assigned to experimental (N = 14, 53.85%) and control (N = 12, 46.15%) groups. The intervention group underwent bi-weekly 30-minute sessions over 6 weeks. The sessions incorporated mobility, strengthening, and control exercises. Muscle function was assessed pre- and post-intervention using standardized clinical tests. Statistical analysis was conducted using Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U-tests. Results. Significant improvements (p < .01) were found in the experimental group across all measured muscle groups, with large effect sizes. No significant changes (p > .05) were observed in the control group. Post-intervention comparisons confirmed significantly greater (p < .01) muscle function in the intervention group. A short, structured, and supervised intervention significantly enhanced (p < 0.01) postural muscle function among performing arts students. Conclusions. The findings support the integration of targeted physical conditioning into performing arts curricula as a preventative strategy to reduce PRMD risks and enhance physical literacy in music education.