Gwyneth Paltrow suffered Country strain

Gwyneth Paltrow pulled a muscle in her armpit while filming 'Country Strong'.

The 38-year-old actress was left with several injuries while learning to play the guitar for her role as alcoholic musician Kelly Canter, and convinced herself something was seriously wrong when she pulled the unusual muscle.

Gwyneth - who is married to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who can play guitar and piano - said: "I had bleeding fingers and cramps and I had shoulder problems, and I thought I had something seriously wrong with me but I had just pulled a muscle in my armpit. It was a disaster.

"I thought, 'My god, I must have all these atrophied muscles in my fingers, 'cause they are not working!' "

The Oscar winner - who has also showcased her musical abilities in TV series 'Glee' - admits trying to learn the guitar was one of the most difficult things she has ever done.

She said: "It was horrible. It was so frustrating, because my fingers wouldn't respond to the signals. My brain wouldn't connect to my fingers. It took me so long to get my fingers to do what my brain wanted them to do.

"Other people can play guitar but I can't get my hands to do it."