Honors: All College Participants
A Pilot Study focused on data collection methodology for identifying Ergonomic Risk Factors in Marching Percussionists
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Occupational Safety and Health
Minor
Spanish
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Julia Boyd
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
Marching band members are subject to many stressors. Many muscles are being used to play percussion instruments like snare drums, tenor drums, and bass drums. Percussionists sacrifice comfort for the ability to play in marching band. This study assesses the methodology for accurately studying ergonomic risks associated with marching percussionists. The participants were gathered from Murray State University marching band. By asking each participant to complete discomfort surveys about their pain associated with playing their instrument, gathering anthropometric measurements, and observing playing posture during a marching band practice the study explores the risk factors associated with drumming. Some of the tools utilized include ACGIH TLV Hand Activity, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), and Rapid Ergonomic Body Assessment (REBA). The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygiene Threshold Limit Value for Hand Activity will give data that assesses hand activity and the level of effort to perform the task of drumming. RULA and REBA will assess body movements as they pertain to musculoskeletal disorders. This study was designed to get leading information into the percussion field. This study will help more percussionists realize the risks to drumming and could potentially lead to new ways of preventing ergonomic risks in percussion.
Location
Classroom 211, Waterfield Library
Start Date
November 2016
End Date
November 2016
Affiliations
Honors Thesis, Occupational Safety and Health
A Pilot Study focused on data collection methodology for identifying Ergonomic Risk Factors in Marching Percussionists
Classroom 211, Waterfield Library
Marching band members are subject to many stressors. Many muscles are being used to play percussion instruments like snare drums, tenor drums, and bass drums. Percussionists sacrifice comfort for the ability to play in marching band. This study assesses the methodology for accurately studying ergonomic risks associated with marching percussionists. The participants were gathered from Murray State University marching band. By asking each participant to complete discomfort surveys about their pain associated with playing their instrument, gathering anthropometric measurements, and observing playing posture during a marching band practice the study explores the risk factors associated with drumming. Some of the tools utilized include ACGIH TLV Hand Activity, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), and Rapid Ergonomic Body Assessment (REBA). The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygiene Threshold Limit Value for Hand Activity will give data that assesses hand activity and the level of effort to perform the task of drumming. RULA and REBA will assess body movements as they pertain to musculoskeletal disorders. This study was designed to get leading information into the percussion field. This study will help more percussionists realize the risks to drumming and could potentially lead to new ways of preventing ergonomic risks in percussion.