Occupational Health Problems of Classical Guitarists

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal health
• Occupational health
• Music performance science

Background:

• Classical guitarists face unique biopsychosocial demands.
• Limited epidemiologic data exists on classical guitarist health.
• Understanding these demands is crucial for addressing health issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal problems in classical guitarists.
• To identify prevalent pain sites and their impact on performance.
• To contribute to the understudied area of classical guitarist health.

Main Methods:

• A web-based survey was administered to 190 classical guitarists.
• The survey collected data on demographics, music variables, and pain.
• Novel interactive body and hand maps were used to assess pain characteristics.

Main Results:

• 88.9% of participants reported musculoskeletal pain in the past year.
• The left thenar was the most common pain site (25%).
• Pain in the right upper back most affected performance; non-musculoskeletal issues were prevalent.

Conclusions:

• Classical guitarists are an understudied population with significant occupational health concerns.
• Novel assessment tools provided valuable insights into musician health.
• Findings can inform clinicians and educators on managing musician health.