Prevalence and Treatment of Guitar-Related Medical Problems: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies

Abstract

AIMS: As the number of professional and amateur guitarists continues to grow, there is a need to summarize the clinical evidence on the prevalence and treatment of this population. This systematic review aimed to provide an overview of the diseases and symptoms affecting guitarists and the available treatments. METHODS: Published clinical studies, ranging from case reports to systematic reviews, addressing medical problems among guitarists were systematically searched in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library up to June 2025. A proportion meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the prevalence of these conditions, and the treatment evidence was summarized. RESULTS: Among 1,001 publications identified from the literature search, a total of 42 clinical studies were included in this review, including case studies, observational studies, and randomized controlled trials. Guitarists were found to have a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (0.56, 95% confidence interval [0.26 to 0.84]) and psychological problems. Guitarists’ musculoskeletal pain was potentially related to the long practice duration and inappropriate posture while playing. Various invasive and noninvasive treatment options are available for dystonia in guitarists, but clinical evidence of their effectiveness and safety has not yet been established. Moreover, there were some publications on rare conditions, which should be assessed from the perspective of therapeutic options and prevention in future research. DISCUSSION: Guitarists are at notable risk of physical and psychological conditions. Therefore, preventative education and training are necessary. In addition, clinical evidence for treating these diseases remains inconclusive, and well-designed clinical studies for various interventions are necessary in the future. [Protocol: INPLASY202560088.] Med Probl Perform Art 2026;41(1):16–35.