Investigating the effects of music on static posturography in Maltese synchronised swimmers

Abstract

Synchronised swimming is a combination of ballet, gymnastics and swimming. The athletes spend a large amount of time in an upside down vertical position whilst listening to music. This study aimed to investigate whether different types of music had an effect on the static posturography of Maltese synchronised swimmers whilst also investigating whether the Maltese population had similar static posturographic findings to those of Japanese and Korean synchronised swimmers. A positivist approach was chosen to test this anthropometric study. A questionnaire was used in order to collect anthropometric data while a baropodometric platform was then used in order to collect data on the static posturography during five auditory scenarios of no auditory stimulus, Mozart’s Symphony ‘Jupiter’, ‘Musik zum Streicheln’ by Johannes R. Kohler, metronome of their team music and their team music (the piece of music to which they perform their synchronised swimming routine). SPSS® was used to generate results. Diverse findings resulted between the anthropometric data and postural sway, a specific pattern could not be established as different results were noted across different categories for different types of music. Music composed by Mozart showed to have a positive effect on postural stability when standing on an unstable surface with the eyes open. Metronome and team music also had a positive effect when standing on unstable surface with the eyes closed and open respectively. Visual input was seen to improved postural stability on both types of surface. Through this study it can be concluded that music by Mozart and listening to the same piece of music often appears to improve postural stability. This study also concluded that Maltese synchronised swimmers demonstrated similarities to both Japanese and Korean synchronised swimmers, however no difference in postural sway was noted between elite and junior Maltese synchronised swimmers. Further research is required in order to investigate the difference in postural sway between young healthy adults and Maltese synchronised swimmers.