OBJECTIVE: This study examined how standing violinists regulate postural balance when several conditions are varied, including playing posture, weight of the instrument, technical and physical difficulty of the musical piece, and presence or absence of a musical score. It also examined whether imagining playing an easy or difficult piece affects their postural control. METHODS: This observational study included 16 violin students from a music university (age 21 yrs, SD 4). Postural control was assessed using two stabilometric platforms (frequency 100 Hz). Nine conditions were tested: standard standing; violin posture without/with instrument; motor imagery of an easy and a difficult piece without/with instrument; playing of an easy and a difficult piece, with/without a music stand. Center of pressure (CoP) parameters were extracted, and weight distribution asymmetry was calculated. Depending on data characteristics, either parametric or non-parametric statistical tests were conducted to compare conditions. RESULTS: Compared with the standard standing position, the violin posture without the instrument and the posture with violin and bow showed a significant decrease in CoP sway area (p ≤ 0.010). All violin playing conditions induced a significant increase in CoP parameters (sway area, total, anteroposterior, and mediolateral displacements) compared with the other conditions (p ≤ 0.036). Postural demand was greater for the difficult piece than for the easy one. Motor imagery of violin playing did not increase postural control demands compared with non-playing conditions. CONCLUSION: Playing the violin, whether performing an easy or a difficult piece, places substantial demands on postural control. Preventive standing balance exercises for violinists may help reduce the risk of early fatigue and playing-related pain. In the presence of injury, motor imagery can be safely employed to maintain violin training, as it does not impose high demands on postural control.
