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→Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
For more information, see [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpal_tunnel_syndrome 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 Exercises|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) ==