Epidemiology of neuromuscular injuries in guitar players living in Portugal: Associated risk factors

Article type: Research Article

Authors: dos Santos, Raquel Marreiro^a | Minghelli, Beatriz^{b; *}

Affiliations: [a] Instituto Piaget de Silves, Silves, Portugal | [b] Insight: Piaget Research Center for Ecological Human Development, Instituto Piaget de Silves, Silves, Portugal

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Beatriz Minghelli, Instituto Piaget, Escola Superior de Saúde Jean Piaget do Algarve, Enxerim, 8300-025, Silves, Portugal. Tel.: 00 (351) 282 440 170; E-mail: beatriz.minghelli@ipiaget.pt; ORCID: 0000-0003-3341-3189.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Playing guitar involves several physical demands, most inclusive of which are long hours of practice, which can make musculoskeletal symptoms common. OBJETIVE:To determine the epidemiology of neuromuscular injuries in guitar players residing in Portugal and risk factors. METHODS:The sample consisted of 105 guitar players, being 103 (98.10%) men, aged between 30–75 years (29,83±10,23). The measurement instrument used was a digital survey, shared by email, on social networks and in person. RESULTS:Fifty-six (53.30%) guitar players had injuries throughout their musical practice, totaling 132 injuries, 13 (12.40%) guitar players were injured at the time of assessment and 31 (29.5%) guitar players had injuries in the last 12 months, totaling 63 injuries. The value of injury proportion was 0.29 (CI 95% : 0.14–0.44) and the injury rate was 0.42 injuries per 1,000 hours of music practice. The most common types of injury were: tendinopathy (22; 34.92%) and low back pain (9; 14.29%). The most affected anatomical sites were: wrist (18; 28.57%) and lumbar spine (10; 15.87%). Repetitive movement was the injury mechanism most mentioned by guitar players (24; 35.29%) followed by maintaining postures for a prolonged period of time (15; 22.06%). Guitar players who did not warm up before practicing were 0.33 (CI: 0.13–0.79; p = 0.013) more likely to have an injury. CONCLUSIONS:There was a high percentage of injuries in guitar players and failure to warm up was a risk factor for the development of injuries. This type of study can help in creating injury prevention strategies in this type of population.

Keywords: Injuries, guitar players, musicians, epidemiology, cross-section study, prevalence, neuromuscular

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230701

Journal: Work, vol. 79, no. 2, pp. 965-973, 2024