SONOGRAPHERS AND MSI

Sonographers and MSI



Sonographers and MSI

Ergonomics

Ergonomics is defined as the study of the relationship between people, their activities, their equipment and their environment.  The purpose is to design workspaces and tools to help people do their jobs comfortably and safely.  The goal is to enhance human performance while improving health, comfort, safety and job satisfaction.  Click here to review the Ergonomics Program/Policy.

Sonographers And Musculoskeletal Disorders

Radiologic technologists are responsible for performing diagnostic ultrasound examinations on pregnant women. Employees have reported discomfort in the low back and upper extremities that they attribute to the awkward postures and sustained gripping required while scanning and the fast work pace. Ergonomists have observed these tasks and confirmed the use of sustained grip, awkward back, neck, shoulder and wrist posture during scans. The grip forces or postures were never quantified, compared to other clinics, nor were formal analyses of frequency or duration of the exposures completed. Equipment modifications were recommended, but few, if any, were ever implemented due to budgetary constraints or lack of support to address these issues.

Diagnostic medical sonographers are very often exposed to factors that contribute to workplace injury which have been categorized as work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD). WRMSD have become increasingly common in the field of sonography as a 2000 survey found that more than 80% of sonographers are scanning in pain during a study, and 20% of these professionals eventually experience a career-ending injury. Even more recently, another survey was conducted yielding the greatest participant sample to date with 2963 respondents. This new survey revealed a 9% increase in the number of sonographers scanning in pain since the 2000 survey, which implies that WRMSD are increasingly being reported in the field.

Research has shown that ergonomic stressors such as repetitive motion, high force, awkward posture and duration of work activity may be related to the development of upper extremity discomfort, musculoskeletal disorders such as tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Weight of object lifted, horizontal reaching distance, awkward posture, and frequency of exertions has been determined to play a significant role in the development of low back pain. It is thought that through the various tasks required of radiologic technologists, they may be exposed to these factors, and, therefore, at risk for developing work related musculoskeletal disorders.

Workplace Ergonomics And MSI

Sonographers have a high prevalence of low back symptoms that may interfere with work and leisure activities. Patient positioning is associated with an ...