Musculoskeletal Problem Facing While Playing Guitar

September 2017 to December 2017.

Faculty guide: Conducted By:

Mr.Ranjan Kumar Saha
Ranjeet Kumar
Associate Professor
Sandeep pal
Dr Wricha Mishra
Viswanath Kumar Saw
Guest Faculty Ergonomics
NIFT Mumbai
Statement Of Purpose

• The most frustrating experiences we can go through as a

guitarist is to realize that our guitar playing problems are
caused by years of incorrect practicing, bad guitar
instruction and bad habits.

• Second one is the Body posture while playing guitar, due

to which there can be Musculoskeletal Problem faced by
the Guitar player.
OBJECTIVE
Problem faced by Guitar Playing

 An investigation carried worldwide which shows that there is a

huge musculoskeletal injury amongst all musicians and guitar
playing, which is a prone area among the entire musical
instrument.
 To analyse the specific areas in which a guitarist faces the
musculoskeletal problem .
 To suggest a possible solution for the same

 Viewing the problem like observation, biomechanical

Research Methods:
What types of data required to conduct this Research?
 Primary Data 75% to 90%
 Secondary Data 25% to 10%
Where the research conducted?
 The research is conducted in Navi Mumbai (Kharghar, Nerul, etc.). Research is
conducted by the Guitar playing people, school students and an institutional
academy where Guitar playing classes is being conducted.
From where will the data be collected?
 This research will be based on the Age segment, because we can find easily find
good number of people of teenagers for the guitar playing.
 Occupation is also plays a big role in this game, because guitar playing is not a big
task for everyone.
How was the data collected?
 Data is conducted on the basis of 2 major Aspects:
 Experiment Based
Experiment in the aesthetical design of the Guitar [It will come under the Review of Literature].
 Survey Based
 It is based on survey of sample data of 15 to 20 people including professional Guitar player
and beginners in this field.
How much data is collected?
 Data collection is on sample size of 15 to 20.
 It depends on two constraints
1. Time based Constraints
 In this Research method time constraints (Time and Action plan) will plays a big role.
2. Money Based Constraints
 There will be no Specific money involved in the research.
What are the sampling Method?

In this research study Non-Probably sampling method will be used

Non-Probably, in which we use 2 types method.
1. Judgmental Sampling Method: This method will be based on applying Logic and
judgments.
2. Snow Ball Sampling Method: This research, is based on referring the samples to another
people who is attached with this field.

How we anlyzed the data ?

The data is analyzed using following statically method:

1. Pictorial / Graphical representation [Bar chart, Histogram, Pie Chart]
2. Measure of association [Correlation]
3. Cross tabulation
 DATA ANALYSIS:
Survey Report Gender.
1. Gender Frequenc Valid Cumulative
y Percent Percent Percent
 Male Valid 1 12 63.2 63.2 63.2
 Female 2 7 36.8 36.8 100.0
Total 19 100.0 100.0
2.Age group * Age group
 5 - 10 years Frequenc Valid Cumulative
y Percent Percent Percent
 10 - 15 Years Valid 3 4 21.1 21.1 21.1
 15-20 Years 4 15 78.9 78.9 100.0
Total 19 100.0 100.0
 20 - To Above Years
Occupation
3. Occupation * Frequenc Valid Cumulative
 Student y Percent Percent Percent
Valid 1 2 10.5 10.5 10.5
 Professional Player 2 12 63.2 63.2 73.7
 Instructor/ Teacher 3 1 5.3 5.3 78.9
4 1 5.3 5.3 84.2
 Office Working 5 3 15.8 15.8 100.0
 Other: Total 19 100.0 100.0
How often you hourly practice on Guitar? (In hours) *
How often you hourly practice on Guitar? (In hours)
 1/2 hour
Frequenc Valid Cumulative
 ½ - 1 hour y Percent Percent Percent
Valid 1 11 57.9 57.9 57.9
 1 – 2 hour
2 3 15.8 15.8 73.7
 Above 3 1 5.3 5.3 78.9
4 4 21.1 21.1 100.0
Total 19 100.0 100.0
Problem faced by beginner? *
 Guitar pick keep slipping out of your hand Problem faced by beginner?
Frequenc Valid Cumulative
 Notes are not very clear or muffled y Percent Percent Percent
 Finger hurt while playing guitar Valid 1 6 31.6 31.6 31.6
2 3 15.8 15.8 47.4
 Unable to bend wrist 3 6 31.6 31.6 78.9
 Unable to put pressure on strings 5 1 5.3 5.3 84.2
6 1 5.3 5.3 89.5
 Problems in neck 7 1 5.3 5.3 94.7
 Problems in back 8 1 5.3 5.3 100.0
Total 19 100.0 100.0
 Other
 Which type of guitar you play?
Which type of guitar you play? * Frequenc Valid Cumulativ
y Percent Percent e Percent
 Classical Valid 1 4 21.1 21.1 21.1
 Electric 2 7 36.8 36.8 57.9
3 1 5.3 5.3 63.2
 Acoustic 4 1 5.3 5.3 68.4
5 4 21.1 21.1 89.5
 Bass
 Other: Total 19 100.0 100.0
Which guitar weight you prefer? (In kg.)
Which guitar weight you prefer? (In kg.) * Frequenc Valid Cumulative
y Percent Percent Percent
 0 - 2.5 kg Valid 1 9 47.4 47.4 47.4
2 6 31.6 31.6 78.9
 2.5 - 3.5 kg 3 2 10.5 10.5 89.5
 3.5 - 4.5 kg 4 2 10.5 10.5 100.0
Total 19 100.0 100.0
 Above than 4.5 kg Do you play bare chords?
Frequenc Valid Cumulative
Do you play bare chords? y Percent Percent Percent
Valid 6 31.6 31.6 31.6
 Yes
1 4 21.1 21.1 52.6
 No 2 9 47.4 47.4 100.0
Total 9 100.0 100.0
 Which position you prefer?
Which position you prefer? *
Frequenc Valid Cumulative
 Ground y Percent Percent Percent
Valid 1 12 63.2 63.2 63.2
 Chair 2 2 10.5 10.5 73.7
 Standing 3 2 10.5 10.5 84.2
4 3 15.8 15.8 100.0
 Other Total 19 100.0 100.0

While playing Guitar using ground position (Sitting), do you face

any problem?
While playing Guitar using ground position Frequenc Valid Cumulative
(ground), do you face any problem ? * y Percent Percent Percent
Valid 1 6 31.6 31.6 31.6
 Yes
2 13 68.4 68.4 100.0
 No Total 19 100.0 100.0

While playing Guitar using Chair (Sitting), do you face any

problem?
While playing Guitar using Chair (Sitting), do Frequenc Valid Cumulative
you face any problem? * y Percent Percent Percent
Valid 1 3 15.8 15.8 15.8
 Yes 2 16 84.2 84.2 100.0
Total 19 100.0 100.0
 No
 While playing Guitar using Standing position (Sitting), do you
While playing guitar using standing face any problem?
 yes Frequenc Valid Cumulative
y Percent Percent Percent
 No Valid 1 2 10.5 10.5 10.5
2 17 89.5 89.5 100.0
Total 19 100.0 100.0
While playing guitar which body parts your have problem
 wrist
 finger While playing Guitar in which body parts you have problem?
Frequenc Valid Cumulative
 neck
y Percent Percent Percent
 back Valid 1 6 26.3 26.3 26.3
2 1 5.3 5.3 31.6
 nails 3 1 5.3 5.3 36.8
 hair 8 12 63.2 63.2 100.0
Total 19 100.0 100.0
 shoulder
 2 or more than
How many days you play guitar in a week
How many days you play guitar in a week?
 on mood Frequenc Valid Cumulative
 on the basis mood y Percent Percent Percent
Valid 1 2 10.5 10.5 10.5
 twice a week 2 9 47.4 47.4 57.9
 Daily 3 4 21.1 21.1 78.9
4 4 21.1 21.1 100.0
Total 19 100.0 100.0
While facing pain the your body what do
you do
While facing pain in the body, what do you do?
 exercise Frequenc Valid Cumulative
 yoga y Percent Percent Percent
Valid 1 6 31.6 31.6 31.6
 ointment 2 6 31.6 31.6 63.2
 painkillers 3 3 15.8 15.8 78.9
4 1 5.3 5.3 84.2
 cry 5 2 10.5 10.5 94.7
 others 6 1 5.3 5.3 100.0
Total 19 100.0 100.0
Major Findings and Conclusion:

• Major findings from Research paper is, which body part generally
beginner found problem while playing the guitar, because it is a continuous
repetitive small movement operation in a very fast way.

• Out of 19 people analysed by REBA we found that 8 people are on low risk of MSDs
and 11 people are on High risk of MSDs.

• Musculoskeletal pain and injuries are common amongst guitar players.

• Almost 75% of amusician’s report having discomfort in one or more of

the following body regions lower back, fretting hand, neck and shoulder
based on literature survey and user research.
 Limitation of the study
• Our research project is limited to the Some parts of Navi Mumbai (Kharghar,
Nerul etc).
• Our Sample size for the research is 21 samples.
References:
Software used in DATA Analysis and Cross Tabulation:
• PSAW statics’18 [ Data Analysis and Cross Tabulation]
• Microsoft Excel

Website used for filling Online Survey:

• Google Survey

Bibliography:
Chong, J., M. Lynden, D. Harvey, and M. Peebles (1989). Occupational health
problems of musicians. Canadian Family Physician 35:2341-2348. Fjellman-Wiklund,
& Chesky K. (2006).
Musculoskeletal and General Health Problems of Acoustic
Guitar, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, and Banjo Players; Medical Problems of
Performing Artists (2), 1, 4: 169. Fry, H. (1986a).
Incidence of overuse syndrome
in the symphony orches-tra. Medical Problems of Performing Artists (June):
51-55. Fry, H. (1986b). Overuse syndrome of the upper limb in musicians.
The Medical Journal of Australia 144:182185. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar