Common injuries of the wrist and hand


For most guitarists the main problem with the hand will be fatigue and the inevitable cramping that follows when we play through it. The left hand tends to suffer more because pressing onto the fretboard requires more work from the muscle.

The main causes are related to technique, excess tension in the hand and simply playing too much. The most immediate problem is that your playing is severely restricted, there is no way you can play your instrument fluently if there is excess myofascial tension in your hand, arm or shoulder.

Tension, or hypertrophy, in the muscles of the wrist and hand can, over time, lead to more serious medical conditions. I've listed a few of them below that are typical of Occupational Overuse Syndromes affecting the hand and wrist along with their Wikipedia links. Check out the links page and our friend Google for more information on them. Keep in touch here as well I'm always looking at the latest research and I'll keep you posted.

The biomechanics studies of the wrist and hand are worth investigating as are the relevant sections of the premium content.


Cumulative Trauma Disorders of the wrist and hand

Carpal tunnel syndrome. Sharp and burning pain in the wrist
Intersection syndrome. Pain on the radial side of the forearm
DeQuervain's tenosynovitis Pain affecting the thumb
Guyon's canal syndrome Entrapment of the ulnar nerve at the wrist
Trigger finger or Trigger Thumb. The finger or thumb is swollen, painful and diffucult to straighten
Stenosing Tenosynovitis. A medical term for both DeQuervains and trigger finger
Tendonitis/Tendinosus. Damage to the tendons
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