{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,12]],"date-time":"2025-10-12T01:09:49Z","timestamp":1760231389132,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,15]],"date-time":"2022-09-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1663200000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Symmetry"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The study of the consequences of different sonata styles (baroque, classical and romantic piano repertoire) on pianists\u2019 upper limbs represents a research topic for both the musical and medical fields. Twenty piano students were examined using a MicroFet2 dynamometer after playing three sonatas (Scarlatti K. 1 Sonata as a representative of the baroque style, Haydn Sonata no. 60 for the classical style and Chopin second Sonata for the romantic style). The phase sequence was randomised for each subject: firstly, continuous interpretation of 10 bars of a sonata was conducted 10 times, with the metronome tempo set by the investigator; secondly, the subject interpreted 10 bars of a different sonata continuously, standardised by tempo, which was carried out 10 times; finally, the continuous interpretation of 10 bars of the remaining third sonata, standardised by tempo, was carried out 10 times. After each performance of the 10 bars, the elbow extensor\u2019s isometric muscle force was measured. Significant differences were found between the elbow extensor\u2019s isometric muscle force assessed after playing Scarlatti\u2019s sonata and Haydn\u2019s sonata (p = 0.005 for left arm, p = 0.03 for right arm), between Scarlatti\u2019s sonata and Chopin\u2019s sonata (p &lt; 0.0001 for both left and right arms) and between Haydn\u2019s sonata and Chopin\u2019s sonata (p = 0.01 for left arm, p &lt; 0.0001 for right arm). In healthy piano students, the dynamometric assessment of elbow extensors\u2019 isometric muscle force after playing three different sonatas (baroque, classical and romantic) showed that the lowest values were recorded after playing the baroque style. Our results showed bilateral symmetry in the elbow extensor\u2019s isometric muscle force for all three piano styles. The testing of arm muscles, besides that of the fingers, should be considered as a regular evaluation for future professional pianists with regard to the prevention of musculoskeletal complaints.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/sym14091927","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,16]],"date-time":"2022-09-16T03:48:04Z","timestamp":1663300084000},"page":"1927","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The Impact of Piano Styles on Muscle Force in Pianist Students"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3328-1024","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Iulia","family":"Toma","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, \u201cVictor Babes\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timi\u0219oara, Romania"},{"name":"Faculty of Music and Theatre, West University of Timisoara, 300223 Timi\u0219oara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0706-7449","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elena","family":"Amaricai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and Rheumatology, Research Center for Assessment of Human Motion, Functionality and Disability, \u201cVictor Babes\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timi\u0219oara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2896-7523","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Roxana Ramona","family":"Onofrei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and Rheumatology, Research Center for Assessment of Human Motion, Functionality and Disability, \u201cVictor Babes\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timi\u0219oara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0662-387X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mihai","family":"Popean","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Music and Theatre, West University of Timisoara, 300223 Timi\u0219oara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15750","DOI":"10.1038\/srep15750","article-title":"Secrets of Virtuoso: Neuromuscular Attributes of Motor Virtuosity in Expert Musicians","volume":"5","author":"Furuya","year":"2015","journal-title":"Sci. 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