New instrument stand to help prevent injuries »

Musicians and engineers at The Australian National University (ANU) have invented a new instrument stand designed to prevent injuries for saxophone players and musicians who play a range of heavy wind instruments. The stand was invented by musician John Mackey from the ANU School of Music and engineer Stephen Holgate from the ANU Research School of Physics and Engineering (RSPE). Professional musicians suffer a range of spinal, neck and back problems due to weight of their instruments and the repetitive nature of their work, forcing many to limit their playing or even end their careers prematurely. "Wear and tear is definitely a huge issue in the music industry," said Mr Mackey. "There's lots of spinal injuries, neck problems, shoulders, and lower back problems. This stand is a great way to alleviate all the pressures that people will be facing." The new stand helps take the weight off the necks of musicians and can be used in rehearsals and performance. Mr Holgate said the stand would benefit young musicians who are going to move through the industry.