A Pediatrician's Perspective: Why Violin Ergonomics Matter for Growing Children
I recently received an email that reminded me exactly why I spent 30 years developing the EFEL shoulder rest. It came from Dr. Marcela, a pediatrician and mother of 14-year-old Stepan, a talented competitive violinist.
The Problem with High, Rigid Rests
"At competitions, I often find myself feeling sorry for the other children," Marcela wrote. "I see their clunky, high, and rigid traditional rests that simply don't fit their small frames. To compensate for the height, these children lift their shoulders and struggle with their posture."
As a pediatrician, Marcela noticed a principle I emphasize constantly: A child grows, and the shoulder rest must grow with them. Most standard bridge-style rests lift the violin several inches above the shoulder, inviting chronic tension and potential long-term injury.
The "Second Skin" Result
Below are examples of the "Second Skin" setup Dr. Marcela achieved—where the rest follows the anatomy perfectly, allowing the violin to sit low and stable.
Dr. Marcela's goal was for the violin to "sit directly on the shoulder." With EFEL, she achieved this by setting the rest to its lowest possible position—mimicking the natural comfort of a sponge while maintaining the professional stability of a shaped support.
Thanks to his mother's medical insight and the right setup, Stepan plays freely and without unnecessary tension. My mission is to ensure every student has that same chance at acoustic freedom.