Mobilization-Based Exercise Frequency and Dynamic Postural Control in Orchestra Musicians: An Exploratory Controlled Intervention Study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Orchestra musicians are exposed to prolonged asymmetric postures and repetitive upper-quarter loading that may influence postural-control strategies. This exploratory controlled intervention study examined whether a four-week mobilization-based exercise program performed once or twice weekly was associated with changes in static sensory-dependent balance and dynamic voluntary weight-shifting control. METHODS: Twenty-three university orchestra musicians (5 males, 18 females; mean age 24.57 ± 3.41 years) were allocated to a no-intervention control group (n = 7), a once-weekly mobilization group (EG1; n = 8), or a twice-weekly mobilization group (EG2; n = 8). Because no contemporaneous documentation of the allocation-sequence generation could be retrieved, the study is reported as a non-randomized exploratory controlled intervention study, and it was registered retrospectively at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07632950; first posted 8 June 2026, after study completion). Postural control was assessed at baseline, Week 1, and Week 4 using CTSIB and LOS tests. RESULTS: No between-group differences were detected for any CTSIB outcome at any time point or for change scores. Although selected CTSIB variables changed within the control and EG2 groups, the absence of between-group differences indicates that these changes were not intervention-specific. For LOS outcomes, change-score comparisons were significant for Reaction Time (H = 9.076, p = 0.011, ε2 = 0.354) and Directional Control (H = 6.214, p = 0.045, ε2 = 0.211). After Bonferroni adjustment, only the greater reduction in Reaction Time in EG2 versus control remained significant (p_adj = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: In this small exploratory study, twice-weekly mobilization was associated with faster LOS movement initiation, but the absolute and clinical importance of this change remains uncertain. CTSIB outcomes did not demonstrate an intervention-specific effect; therefore, the findings should be considered hypothesis-generating.