Electrocardiography and Lung Function in Brass Instrument Players

Abstract

Electrocardiograms during rest and brass instrument playing, pulmonary function, and peak intraoral pressures were determined for 45 young male brass instrument players. The pulmonary function results revealed significantly larger vital capacities, residual volumes, total lung capacities, and expiratory flow rates. Peak intraoral pressures were higher in the brass instrument players than those previously reported for other wind instrument players, with trumpeters exhibiting the highest pressures. The ECGs obtained during instrument playing indicated a sinus bradycardia at the start of playing followed by a tachycardia, similar to the response to the Valsalva maneuver. Cardiac arrhythmias during instrument playing were prevalent in these musicians, with premature atrial and ventricular contractions occurring predominantly during inspiration.