Repetitive use injuries plague sonographers

Jun 20, 2005

ORLANDO, FL - Musculoskeletal and repetitive use injuries are common among sonographers and are leading to lost work productivity, according to results from a multicenter study presented Monday at the annual convention of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM).

"Workplace interventions (to reduce work-related musculoskeletal and repetitive use injuries) may be helpful for this increasing problem," said Dr. Nora Doyle of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

Researchers from the University of Texas Medical School, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque, NM, collected demographic data from 29 sonographers from five departments via a 32-part questionnaire.

The study team gathered information on time spent scanning, transducer pressure used, sonographer position, years scanning, dominant hand, pain during scanning, and equipment ergonomics. Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) were measured as outcome variables of back, shoulder, neck, and wrist pain/dysfunction, as well as the Pransky upper extremity score (UES) to elicit the degree of disability.

Of the 29 sonographers, 16 were female and 13 were male. All were in good health and exercised regularly, according to the researchers. Mean body mass index was 26.8.

Most were right-handed and scanned with their dominant hand. Ninety-three percent performed 11-20 ultrasound exams per day, and 86% spent more than 30 minutes per exam and scanned five days per week, Doyle said.

All wore comfortable shoes and adjusted bed height while scanning. Of the respondents, 86% were right-hand dominant and scanned using their right hand. A majority of sonographers were not attempting to alternate hand use, she said.

"The reason for this was the inability to change the workstation setup and also discomfort level," Doyle said. "They didn't feel comfortable scanning with the alternate hand."

Transducer pressure used was moderate to high. There was a correlation between time spent scanning and MSIs, she said. More than 80% of the surveyed sonographers reported some upper extremity problems since becoming a sonographer, Doyle noted. Sixty-nine percent had UES scores consistent with dysfunction.

Less than half of the participants used ergonomically designed equipment, and one-third of the respondents reported missing work due to MSIs associated with sonography, she said.

"MSIs are common among sonographers, and ergonomically designed equipment is not currently the mainstream, at least at the five places that we surveyed," Doyle said. "And even if you have baseline good health and exercise routines, it's not going to help prevent these MSIs."

By Erik L. Ridley
AuntMinnie.com staff writer
June 21, 2005

Managing ultrasound ergonomics, March 26, 2004

Employers can reduce repetitive strain injuries among sonographers, August 17, 2000