Musculoskeletal Injuries among Ultrasound Sonographers in Rural Manitoba

Friesen, Margaret; Friesen, Rebecca; Quanbury, Arthur O.; Arpin, Suzanne

doi:10.1177/216507990605400105

Cited by 26 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Therefore, left sided scans produced larger moment arms about the shoulder joint ( Figure 2). These findings are consistent with the biomechanical assessment by Friesen et al (2006) which concluded that load moments were the highest when shoulder abduction was greatest and elbow flexion was smallest. Forceful manual exertions are commonly cited as risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders (Punnett & Wegman, 2004;Bernard, 1997).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Ergonomic and Biomechanical Evaluation of Work-Related Risk Factors in Sonography

Burnett

Campbell-Kyureghyan

2008

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Previous studies have shown that medical sonographers are at an increased risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) which may be attributed to occupational risks including repetitive motion, extreme joint positions, and periods of applied static muscle force. The specific aim of this study was to identify and quantify possible risk factors for the development of WRMSDs in medical sonographers and determine possible pathways to injury. Seven full time sonographers participated in the study which included the use of customized questionnaires to determine the prevalence of WRMSDs and the existence of perceived workrelated risk factors, ergonomic job evaluation using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), and biomechanical evaluations with electrogoniometers to assess upper extremity posture during typical scanning procedures. 86% of sonographers reported musculoskeletal pain in at least one upper extremity joint. Shoulder abduction, wrist deviation, sustained transducer usage, bending or twisting of the neck, and the number of scanning procedures performed per day were all identified as possible risk factors for injury.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Friesen et al (2006) reported that sonographers scanned approximately 12 to 14 patients per day, and Pike at al. (1997) reported that sonographers scanned approximately 25 -35 patients per week.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ergonomic and Biomechanical Evaluation of Work-Related Risk Factors in Sonography

Burnett

Campbell-Kyureghyan

2008

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Twenty percent of sonographers in the United Kingdom have had a career‐ending injury as the result of a WRMSD . Poor posture and applying sustained pressure with the US transducer, in addition to poor equipment design and poorly planned scanning sessions, are the main risk factors for WRMSDs in US examinations . Advances in the field of US imaging have increased demands on the service and hence increased the workload of sonographers, with fewer opportunities to incorporate rest breaks within the workday.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Survey of UK sonographers on the prevention of work related muscular-skeletal disorder (WRMSD)

Bolton

Cox

2014

J. Clin. Ultrasound

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:Background. To establish whether the current training of student sonographers in both academic and clinical settings is sufficient for educating about the dangers of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs).Methods. A dual method of data collection was undertaken. Initially, a focus group was set up, involving a small group of practicing sonographers from a hospital in the United Kingdom, with the results of that survey being used to design a postal survey questionnaire. The questionnaire focused on ergonomics, scanning technique, training in physical techniques, personal general health, risk, stress, and task management. It was sent to seven participating universities across the United Kingdom. Approvals were obtained from the local ethics committees, the hospital Trust, and the academic institution.Results. The focus group highlighted several areas in which improvements could be made in educating sonographers on the reduction of WRMSDs. The questionnaire results indicated that students are being taught about certain aspects of WRMSD prevention by both their university and clinical mentors. Respondents received training on the prevention of WRMSDs: 97% in the university setting and 81% from clinical mentors.Conclusions. Improvements need to be made in terms of educating students to perform muscle strengthening exercises during the workday; to have a system of reporting injury; to consider personal health, well-being, and stress management in the workplace; and to evaluate the ergonomics of computer workstations.Keywords: work-related musculoskeletal disorders; ultrasound; sonographer; education; musculoskeletal; occupational diseases More than 80% of sonographers in the United Kingdom have reported experiencing pain from repeatedly performing sonographic (US) examinations.1 Sonographers are scanning an increasing number of patients per session and are often working without taking protected breaks and rest periods.Sonography is an expanding modality, with applications in obstetrics and gynecology, general abdominal and small parts, vascular, and musculoskeletal imaging.3 Sonographers are increasingly developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs), and more than 80% of sonographers in the United Kingdom are reporting pain from US scanning.4,5 WRMSDs are caused by small repetitive stresses to muscles and tendons that occur over time and include conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, bursitis, and epicondylitis.6

show abstract

“…In one of the few studies to involve only CS, Smith et al (1997) identified three factors that differed between survey respondents with and without MSK pain, including stature, number of exams performed each month, and exam duration. From other studies of the general population of sonographers, factors associated with MSK pain in multiple studies include shoulder abduction, applying sustained pressure with the hand-held transducer, forceful gripping of the transducer, and scanning larger patients (Friesen et al, 2006; Muir et al, 2004; Russo et al, 2002). Average push and grip forces on the transducer have been estimated to range from 1 to 8 kg, depending on the scan type and location (Burnett & Campbell-Kyureghyan, 2010; Village & Trask, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collaborating with cardiac sonographers to develop work-related musculoskeletal disorder interventions

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

For more than two decades, surveys of imaging technologists, including cardiac sonographers, diagnostic medical sonographers, and vascular technologists, have consistently reported high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal discomfort (WRMSD). Yet, intervention research involving sonographers is limited. In this study, we used a participatory approach to identifying needs and opportunities for developing interventions to reduce sonographers’ exposures to WMSD risk factors. In this paper, we present some of those needs. We include descriptions of two interventions, targeted for cardiac sonographers, that were developed, through an iterative process, into functional prototypes that were evaluated in pilot tests by practicing sonographers. One of these interventions is now in daily use. We would like other engineers and ergonomists to recognize this area of opportunity to apply their knowledge of biomechanics and design in order to begin to address the high prevalence of WRMSDs in sonographers, by working with sonographers to develop useful and usable interventions.

show abstract

Musculoskeletal Injuries among Ultrasound Sonographers in Rural Manitoba

Cited by 26 publications

References 7 publications

Ergonomic and Biomechanical Evaluation of Work-Related Risk Factors in Sonography

Ergonomic and Biomechanical Evaluation of Work-Related Risk Factors in Sonography

Survey of UK sonographers on the prevention of work related muscular-skeletal disorder (WRMSD)

Collaborating with cardiac sonographers to develop work-related musculoskeletal disorder interventions

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About