Pressure Pain Threshold on the Finger Digit Pads in Stringed Musicians

Abstract

Background Musicians put a lot of practice time into becoming experts in their instruments. One instrument with the highest rate of playing-related injuries is the guitar. An area that needs more research to better understand and treat orthopaedicneuromuscular abnormalities and injuries in musicians is how musical training affects the body. Overuse injury caused by pressing the finger pad on stretched guitar strings can lead to changes in the anatomical and functional organization of the somatosensory system which may alter the pain threshold.Aim The objective of this study was to determine the pressure-pain threshold in guitar and non-guitar players using a dolorimeter and compare the pressure-pain threshold changes between guitar and non-guitar players.Methods This observational study was conducted in music schools. A total of 82 participants which including 41 guitarists and 41 non-guitarists were enrolled in the study. A dolorimeter was used to quantify the pressure-pain threshold after which data analysis was performed.Results The pressure-pain threshold was higher in the fretting hands of guitarists than in non-guitarists.Conclusions Guitarists need to train adequately and follow proper fretting techniques to reduce overuse injuries and repetitive micro-trauma to the fingers. This may lead to other sensory problems or conditions in guitarists and thus may affect their careers as musicians.