As part of my PhD on the injuries of classical guitarists I’m running a trial to assess people’s perception of an ergonomic guitar support device that I designed. If you wish to participate, please send me a private message. Read on for details about this project.
The criteria for inclusion in this study are simple, all I ask is that:
• You are UK based (to reduce postage costs and delivery times);
• You play classical guitar almost every day while sitting. It doesn’t matter whether you use a footstool or any type of ergonomic support.

Why Am I Doing This Study?
Performance-related injuries amongst musicians is a poorly understood phenomenon, but there is evidence supporting the idea that bad posture, especially when asymmetrical, is a contributing factor.

[Linked Image]
The classical guitarist’s footstool places the player’s spine in an asymmetrical position because raising one leg tilts the pelvis and kinks the spine. To avoid this, there are many devices that raise the guitar off the legs so the feet can remain level on the floor.

[Linked Image]
The A Frame is the most compact design and allows a decent amount of adjustability of guitar position but, like most designs, it relies on suction cups, which are unreliable and degrade some guitar varnishes, particularly on hand-made instruments. The Delta guitar support was designed to retain the best aspects of the A Frame (compactness and adjustability) while eliminating the problems associated with suction cups. It is small enough to remain attached when the guitar is stored in a hard case without damaging the varnish.
After completing a baseline questionnaire, each participant will receive a Delta by post to test for 2 weeks before returning it with a prepaid postage label. A link to a video demonstrating how to fit the Delta will be included, as will a link to a video about how to sit well, because ergonomic aids aren't a cure for bad self-use. A second questionnaire will be completed at the end. These questionnaires are at the very end of this post. The results will form part of a PhD thesis as well as a journal article. I expect the trial to start towards the end of January.

Participation & Opting Out
Participation is entirely voluntary and you will receive no compensation. You can leave at any time without giving a reason provided that you return the Delta in the pre-paid return envelope.

Health & Safety
There are no foreseeable risks to your participation, but you may learn a bit about how to use your body more efficiently, comfortably, and safely.
Due to COVID-19 the device will be sanitised before you receive it. For your safety and peace of mind please sanitise it yourself before using it and wash your hands after touching the packaging.

Data Protection
Your details will be kept confidential in an encrypted file. Any references to you in videos or articles will be anonymised.

Ethics
The study has been ethically approved by the Humanities Research Ethics Advisory Group of the University of Kent.

Questionnaire 1
To be completed before starting the study. Don’t fill it in yet!
1. What is your age? ______ years
2. What is your gender:
3. What guitar styles do you play?
4. For how many years have you played? _______ years
5. What device do you normally use to support the classical guitar?
6. What other devices have you tried?
7. What other instruments do you currently play?
8. Have you had any significant time off (more than 2 weeks)? Why? When?
9. Thinking about the total time spent practising and performing, how many days per week do you play classical?
10. Thinking about the total time spent practising and performing, how many hours per week do you play classical?
11. What percentage of your classical playing time is as part of a duo/group?
12. Would you describe yourself as professional, semi-professional, or amateur?
Playing-related Musculoskeletal Problems
Playing-related musculoskeletal problems (PRMPs) are defined as "pain, weakness, numbness, tingling, or other symptoms that interfere with your ability to play your instrument at the level to which you are accustomed". This section relates to problems that fit this definition. Questions 20 onwards are about problems that did not affect your level of playing.
13. Have you ever had pain/problems that have interfered with your ability to play your instrument at the level to which you accustomed?
14. Have you had pain/problems that have interfered with your ability to play your instrument at the level to which you are accustomed during the last 2 months?
15. Have you had pain/problems that have interfered with your ability to play your instrument at the level to which you are accustomed during the last 4 weeks?
16. Have you had pain/problems that have interfered with your ability to play your instrument at the level to which you are accustomed during the last 7 days?
17. On the body chart (below), shade in each of the areas where you experience(d) pain/problems. Put an X on the ONE area that hurts (or has hurt) the most.
18. Have you ever had treatment for these problems? If so, which ones?
19. If you’ve been affected by pain, can you describe how it affected your relationship with your instrument?
Problems That Don’t Affect Your Playing
This section relates to problems that did not affect your level of playing.
20. Have you ever had pain/problems present during or immediately after playing that have not interfered with your ability to play your instrument at the level to which you accustomed?
21. Have you had pain/problems present during or immediately after playing that have not interfered with your ability to play your instrument at the level to which you are accustomed during the last 2 months?
22. Have you had pain/problems present during or immediately after playing that have not interfered with your ability to play your instrument at the level to which you are accustomed during the last 4 weeks?
23. Have you had pain/problems present during or immediately after playing that have not interfered with your ability to play your instrument at the level to which you are accustomed during the last 7 days?
24. Were these symptoms present while you played?
25. Were these symptoms present after you played?
26. On the body chart (below), shade in each of the areas where you experience(d) pain/problems. Put an X on the ONE area that hurts (or has hurt) the most.
27. Have you ever had treatment for these problems? If so, which ones?

Questionnaire 2: Your Experience With The Delta
To be completed at the end of the two-week study.
1. How did it feel to use the Delta over the course of the trial?
2. How did it feel for your legs, back, arms, hands?
3. Did you experience sensations in your back/arms/hands during the trial that were different from before?
4. If you previously had unresolved issues reported in Questionnaire 1: were they affected by this trial?
5. Does the Delta enable you to position the guitar how you want?
6. Would you consider using the Delta long-term?
7. Do you have any suggestions for improvements for the Delta?