Becoming a Healthier Guitarist: Understanding and Addressing Injuries
Abstract
The field of performance arts medicine is supplying musicians with alarming
statistics regarding their health. Authors give statistics as high as 93% when
discussing the injury rate among instrumentalists. As guitar is one of the instruments
listed with the highest incidence of playing-related injuries, this work addresses the
types of injuries to which musicians, including guitarists, are prone, as well as their
causes and treatment. Musicians often tend to neglect proper treatment for playing
related injuries, which leads to the conclusion that investing time in prevention
methods is the best choice in regards to injuries. The efficacy of common routines for
injury prevention such as warming-up, taking breaks, among others, has proven
statistically to be successful. Studies show that warm-up routines and periodic breaks
from music practice seem to be effective against playing-related injuries; the benefits
of stretching, however, remain controversial. Since some of the injuries investigated
are preventable to a large extent through technical adjustments, informed suggestions
for guitarists are included. Though the solutions presented are not necessarily the only
ones available, they are supported by studies in performing arts medicine.
Table of Contents
Musicians' injuries: an overview -- The four broad categories of injuries affecting musicians -- General considerations on risks, prevention and proactive ideas -- Specific sites of injuries in guitarists and prevention
Degree
Ph.D.