The Sound Resource :: Knowledge Article

Reducing the Risk for Occupational Injury
Joan P Baker MSR, RDMS, RDCS, FSDMS.
President Sound Ergonomics LLC

Occupational musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) have been described in a number of professions over the years. They have only recently been identified in sonographers and are increasing in incidence. Surveys done among American and Canadian sonographers, as well as in Australia, have shown that the majority of sonographers are scanning in pain.

MSD’s are known by different names but all are defined as injuries that are caused by or aggravated by workplace activities. They account for up to 60% of all workplace illnesses. The increase in the incidence of MSD’s among sonographers is due several factors:
• Technical advances – allow for less time to rest in between patients
• Busier schedules – result in longer work hours with fewer breaks
• Unwillingness of sonographers to scan in pain
• Increased employee awareness
• Aging workforce

The causes of MSD’s can be attributed to 3 groups of factors:
• Biomechanical factors – awkward scanning postures, excessive force, workspace design
• Faulty work organization – infrequent breaks, overtime incentives, poor employee training
• Inadequate management – delayed injury reporting & diagnosis, improper injury management

There are a number of individual factors that increase the risk for MSI. These include sonographer height & weight, age, gender, body-mass index, systemic illnesses, level of physical fitness, and hand dominance. Additionally, there are certain leisure activities that can aggravate MSD’s, such as playing musical instruments, running, sewing or knitting, and racket sports.

The types of work activities known to cause MSD’s in sonographers are repetitive motions, forceful exertions or strain, awkward or unnatural positions, uncomfortable positioning of the limbs, overuse, frequent reaching above shoulder level, and unaccustomed work activities.

The technical advances in ultrasound have contributed to the increase in MSD’s. Filmless storage allows sonographers to move rapid between patients without sufficient rest periods. Narrow transducers require a tighter, or “pinch”, grip which causes excess stress on the fingers and forearm muscles. Conversely, extremely wide transducers cause over-extension of the fingers and strain on the hand and forearm muscles. Chairs or stools and exam tables that are not adjustable result in excessive reaching and twisting in order to reach to patient during an exam. Increases in workloads are due to downsizing and current shortages of skilled sonographers.

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