Lung function in wind instrument players of philharmonic bands

Abstract

Introduction In order to play a wind instrument one must have a good breathing control with rhythm variation, control of inspiratory and expiratory volume as well as a good control of the airflow transmitted by the musician through the different mouthpieces. The pulmonary function of the different wind instrument players has been scarcely studied generating divergent conclusions. Objectives To characterize and compare lung function and functional capacity of musicians of different wind instruments. Methodology One hundred and one individuals from five philharmonic bands from Aveiro and Porto districts were studied. Smokers or ex-smokers for less than one year, respiratory pathology, history of chronic pulmonary or cardiac disease were exclusion criteria. The sample was divided into three groups: "Air reed", "Reeds" and "Metals". Pulmonary function was assessed by spirometry: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), Tiffeneau index (TI), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV). Functional capacity was assessed using the six-minute walk test (6-MWT). Data analysis was performed in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences with a 95% confidence interval. Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, ANOVA test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used. Results All spirometric parameters with the exception of TI were increased in "Metals" group with significant decrease in the "Air reed" parameters of FEV1 (p = 0.045) and MVV (p = 0.004). A negative correlation between FEV1 and 6-MWT was noticed in male musicians (r=-0.291; p = 0.022). Conclusion Musicians from the “Metals” group showed better lung function when compared to other groups. There was no positive correlation between lung function and functional capacity of the studied musicians. However, there was a weak negative correlation between FEV1 of male musicians and their functional capacity.