Injury

This page details physical injuries related to guitar playing. Most are related to muscles, the skeleton, and nerve compression, which can be avoided with care to warming up and good posture.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve in the wrist. There are numerous ways this can happen, but it is commonly associated with repetitive, low impact movements of the wrist and fingers, such as working on computers or playing guitar.

The best way to combat CTS is by stretching the muscles and tendons surrounding the wrist as described in the stretching warm-up page.

For more information, see Wikipedia.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis is the inflammation of tendons, causing pain and joint stiffness. It is often caused by harsh exercise of the connected muscles, such as prolonged activities without rest. For guitarists, the main risk is playing for long periods without taking breaks, using poor technique which forces more stress on certain muscles, over-straining the hands/wrists/elbows rather than using as relaxed grip/movement as possible, and holding the guitar in a position that makes playing more difficult (like slinging the guitar too low).

Another suggestion is to build the muscles of the hands and arms (which typically requires building up the entire body's muscles). This makes the relative effort needed to pick the strings and fret the notes that much easier and less likely to injure one's tendons.

Strained/Pulled Muscles

A muscular strain (often called a pulled muscle) is a tear in the muscle tissue due to overstretching or extreme overuse. It is a relatively rare condition for guitar players; however, it can happen. If playing for long periods of time, doing technically-difficult types of playing, like large stretches, holding exotic chord shapes or large barre chords, playing long fast passages, and extreme picking. As always, you should work your way up to performing technically-difficult techniques or passages. Trying to jump right into things can over-exert your hands and injure them, especially if you fail to warm-up. Cardio to get blood flow to the muscles and stretching will reduce the likelihood that a difficult movement will result in a strain.

You should also watch out for your neck and shoulder muscles. If you play for long periods of time with bad posture and/or constantly holding your neck/shoulder muscles stiff in a certain position (usually for the picking hand), will weaken the muscles if held in place too long. Then even a slight jerk can cause an injury. Be sure to use good posture and hold your guitar in a place where you are as relaxed as possible, and take breaks when possible. Also, try to slowly use the muscle to force blood flow into it.

You should also watch out for strained muscles when carrying gear. Trying to lift something with your bicep that should really be done by your thighs and buttocks is a bad idea. Use the big muscles for the heaviest gear, using the smaller muscles only to stabilize them. Don't jerk your neck. Try to hold your shoulders back, not forwards.

Saturday Night Wrist (Radial Nerve Compression)

Dave Mustaine suffered this injury and basically had to relearn how to play guitar for several weeks before regaining his former technical ability. It is caused by a nerve compression in the armpit, which basically causes paralysis of the wrist and finger muscles. The "Saturday Night" portion of the name is due to it being associated with getting drunk/wasted and passing out in a chair, with one's arm draped over the backrest.

Bulging/Herniated Disks

A bulging or herniated disk is a condition where the lining that surrounds a spinal disk (ring of cartilage that keeps the vertebrae from touching each other) is torn, allowing some of the disk's internal tissue to press against the spinal cord, causing debilitating pain. Often a severe injury cannot heal and requires surgery.

Guitarists face this injury mostly in the form of lifting heavy equipment with poor technique. Never round your lower back when performing heavy lifts - try to stick your butt out like a girl in a rap video. Bend your knees, and use your legs and butt muscles, not your lower back. While you are carrying heavy equipment, try to keep your back straight - don't hunch to one side. Try to hold things in front of you with both hands, not off to one hip or hanging by one arm.

This risk is increased by maintaining poor posture while playing or doing studio work. Set up your studio with ergonomic chairs and well-arranged equipment. You don't want the piece of gear you most constantly tweak or view on or just off the floor. Put it on your desk - get it at elbow height or higher. Be aware that sitting puts considerable pressure on the back, and be sure to get up and move around every hour or so.