The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among ultrasound specialists and identifying their work-related risk factors
Journal of Behdasht dar Arseh (i.e., Health in the Field),
Vol. 3 No. 2,
21 June 2015
,
Page 33-42
https://doi.org/10.22037/jhf.v3i2.6384
Abstract
Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are among the most important and common occupational injuries leading to disability of employees. An increasing trend of musculoskeletal disorders among sonographer specialists has been reported in the literature. This study, therefore, set out with the aim of assessing the musculoskeletal disorders among sonographer specialists working in centers covered by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study all sonographer specialists of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (totally 53 specialists) were selected on census method. Customized questionnaires based on Standardized Nordic Questionnaire were used to assess musculoskeletal disorders in this community. SPSS software was exploited to data analysis. All participants were informed in terms of the study objectives and ethical issues such as confidentiality of study community were all considered.
Results: The prevalence of WMSDs in current study was 86%. Pain and discomfort was more often reported in neck, shoulder and wrist, respectively. Sustained probe usage, types of patient table and chair as well as sustained shoulder abduction were the most risk factors that perceived by ultrasound specialists. Ergonomic evaluations showed that changes should be made soon. Age, experience, scanning hours per week and break duration provided the largest set of significant clusters of pain in body sections (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Since scanning is considered as the major task of sonographers, the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was high among participants in the present study. Ergonomics evaluations and interventions of sonographer’s workplace to allow them to remain productive are necessary.
- Musculoskeletal disorders, Ergonomics, Work-related risk factors, Ultrasound specialists
How to Cite
References
Gordon C, Johnson EW, Gatens PF, Ashton JJ. Wrist ratio correlation with carpal tunnel syndrome in industry.
American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 1988; 67(6):270-72.
Pike I, Russo A, Berkowitz J, Baker JP, Lessoway VA. The prevalence of musculoskeleta disorders among
diagnostic medical sonograhers. Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography 1997; 13(5):219-27.
Bhattacharya A. Costs of occupational musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the United States. International
Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 2014; 44(3):448-54.
Rempel D, Dahlin L, Lundborg G. Pathophysiology of nerve compression syndromes: Response of peripheral
nerves to loading. The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery 1999; 81(11):1600-10.
Piedrahita H. Costs of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in developing countries: Colombia case.
International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics 2006;12(4):379-86.
Morton B, Delf P. The prevalence and causes of MSI amongst sonographers. Radiography 2008; 14(3):195-200.
Murphy C, Russo A. An update on ergonomic issues in sonography. Healthcare Benefit Trust; 2000 Jul.
Evans K, Roll S, Baker J. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) among registered diagnostic medical
sonographers and vascular technologists A representative sample. Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography 2009;
(6):287-99.
Magnavita N, Bevilacqua L, Mirk P, Fileni A, Castellino N. Work-related musculoskeletal complaints in
sonologists. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Campbell-Kyureghyan NH, Burnett DR. Biomechanical analysis of five different scan types performed by
professional ultrasound technicians. Proceedings of the 9th Southeast Asian Ergonomics Society Conference 2008
Oct. 22-24; Bangkok, Thailand.
Muir M, Hrynkow P, Chase R, Boyce D, Mclean D. The Nature, cause, and extent of occupational musculoskeletal
injuries among sonographers recommendations for treatment and prevention. Journal of Diagnostic Medical
Sonography 2004; 20(5):317-25.
Friesen MN, Friesen R, Quanbury A, Arpin S. Musculoskeletal injuries among ultrasound sonographers in rural
Manitoba a study of workplace ergonomics. AAOHN Journal 2006; 54(1):32-37.
Khami MR. Investigating musculoskeletal disorders and its determinants among students of dentistry in Tehran
University of Medical Sciences. Tehran: Tehran University of Medical Sciences; 2011 (In Persian).
Rahimi Moghadam S, Khanjani N, Hasheminejad N. Evaluating risk factors of work-relatedmusculoskeletal
disorders in assembly workers of Nishabur, Iran using rapid upper limb assessment. Journal of Health & Development
; 1(3):227-36 (In Persian).
Russo A, Murphy C, Lessoway V, Berkowitz J. The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among British
Columbia sonographers. Applied Ergonomics 2002; 33(5):385-93.
Khadem MM, Islam MA. Development of anthropometric data for Bangladeshi male population. International
Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 2014; 44(3):407-12.
Paschoarelli LC, de Oliveira AB, Gil Coury HJC. Assessment of the ergonomic design of diagnostic ultrasound
transducers through wrist movements and subjective evaluation. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
; 38(11):999-1006.
Hedge A. Design of hand-operated devices. IN: stanton N, editor. Human factors in consumer products. London:
Taylor & Francis; 1998. p.203-22.
Punnett L, Wegman DH. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders: the epidemiologic evidence and the debate.
Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 2004; 14(1):13-23.
Murphey S, Coffin C. Ergonomics and sonographer well-being in practice. Wilsonville: Sound Ergonomics,
LLC; 2002 Aug.
Bernard BP. Musculoskeletal disorders and workplace factors: a critical review of epidemiologic evidence
for work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, upper extremity, and low back. Cincinnati: Public Health
Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; 1997
Jul.
Armstrong TJ, Castelli WA, Evans FG, Diaz-Perez R. Some histological changes in carpal tunnel contents and
their biomechanical implications. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1984; 26(3):197-201.
Vanderpool HE, Friis EA, Smith BS, Harms KL. Prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome and other work-related
musculoskeletal problems in cardiac sonographers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1993;
(6):604-10.
Schoenfeld A, Goverman J, Weiss DM, Meizner I. Transducer user syndrome: an occupational hazard of the
ultrasonographer. European Journal of Ultrasound 1999; 10(1):41-45.
Burnett DR, Campbell-Kyureghyan NH. Quantification of scan-specific ergonomic risk-factors in medical
sonography. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 2010; 40(3):306-14.
Heinrichs K. Introduction to Surface Electromyography. Journal of Athletic Training 1999; 34(1):69-79.
Holte KA, Westgaard RH. Daytime trapezius muscle activity and shoulder-neck pain of service workers with
work stress and low biomechanical exposure. American Journal of Industrial Medicine 2002; 41(5):393-405.
Leighton D, Reilly T. Epidemiological aspects of back pain: the incidence and prevalence of back pain in nurses
compared to the general population. Occupational Medicine 1995; 45(5):263-67.
Engels JA, Van Der Gulden J, Senden TF, van't Hof B. Work related risk factors for musculoskeletal complaints
in the nursing profession: results of a questionnaire survey. Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1996;
(9):636-41.
Karami Matin B, Mehrabi Matin A, Ziaei M, Nazari Z, Yarmohammadi H, Gharagozlou F. Risk assessment of
cumulative trauma disorders in Quarry and Stone Industries workers Kermanshah in 1392. Journal of Ergonomics
; 1(2):28-35 (In Persian).
Smith AC, Wolf JG, Xie G-Y, Smith MD. Musculoskeletal pain in cardiac ultrasonographers: results of a random
survey. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography 1997; 10(4):357-62.
- Abstract Viewed: 729 times
- PDF (فارسی) Downloaded: 501 times