Does trumpet playing affect lung function?—A case-control study

Abstract

Objectives The effect a wind instrument has on lung function is a much-discussed topic with inconclusive data, not least because existing studies combine all wind instruments as one entity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of playing a trumpet/cornet/flugelhorn on lung function. Methods A prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional, case-control study. Participants were recruited from wind orchestra or brass bands throughout Switzerland. Inclusion criteria: aged 16 or older, reporting at least one year of playing a trumpet/cornet/flugelhorn. Controls were members of an orchestra, who had never played a wind instrument. The primary end-point of the study was the difference in FEV 1 %predicted between trumpet/cornet/flugelhorn players and controls. Results 147 subjects were included in the study. Controls (n = 48) were significantly younger, more commonly male, current smokers and had a lower body mass index compared to trumpet/cornet/flugelhorn players (n = 99). There was no significant difference in FEV 1 %predicted (91.9% vs 94.2%; p = 0.316) or FVC %predicted (89.4% vs 92.6%; p = 0.125) between controls and trumpet/cornet/flugelhorn players, respectively, in crude and adjusted analyses. However, there was a significant negative association between the number of years playing a trumpet/cornet/flugelhorn and FVC %predicted after adjusting for smoking status, gender, and height. Trumpet/cornet/flugelhorn players had a similar amount of respiratory symptoms to controls (questionnaire score 3.2±3.2 vs 2.8±2.4, p = 0.717). Conclusion Lung function in trumpet/cornet/flugelhorn players was similar to controls. However, the number of years playing a trumpet/cornet/flugelhorn seems to have an adverse effect on forced vital capacity.

Do trumpet players have a greater expiratory capacity than those who do not play a wind instrument?

“…Studer et al (11) previously addressed the same question of this study and investigated whether playing trumpet affects lung function. He used spirometry instead of a peak flow meter.…”

“…The results showed that trumpet players developed stronger respiratory muscles and higher respiratory pressure, but this did not affect their spirometry (10). Similarly, Studer et al investigated in a case control study whether playing trumpet affects lung function by using spirometry and found no difference between the study group and the control group (11). On the other hand, Arend Bouchuys showed in a different study that vital capacity was larger than expected for all brass players (12).…”

Effects of a choral program combining wind instrument performance and breathing training on respiratory function, stress, and quality of life in adolescents: A randomized controlled trial

“…In a study applying block flute for 1 month in pediatric and adolescent patients with asthma, a significant improvement was found in the experimental group, and surprisingly, the control group of individuals with no acute or chronic disease also showed a significant improvement [ 21 ]. Wind instruments such as flute, saxophone, and the bassoon require a technique to blow accurately through the mouthpiece, which necessitates more precise working in the process of breathing so as to contribute in enhancing respiratory function [ 22 ]. Wind instruments produce the sound as vibration is applied to the air blowing through the pipe, and they ensure an effective way of breathing training through abdominal breathing with rapid and deep inhalation and long exhalation via pursed lips as natural movements and assist with diaphragmatic breathing to increase the airway pressure during exhalation [ 11 , 23 ].…”

The Puzzle of Marijuana Use and Forced Vital Capacity

“…Perhaps a better comparison might by musical training for vocalists or wind instrumentalists, which also requires deep inhalations, prolonged breath holds, and controlled exhalations but does not induce comparable mechanical strain on the skeletal system. Although musical training to sing or to play wind instruments has sometimes been associated with larger FVC ( 67 – 70 ), this finding has not been consistently observed ( 71 – 77 ).…”