Musculoskeletal symptomatology and repetitive strain injuries in diagnostic medical sonographers: A pilot study in Washington and Oregon

Abstract

Repetitive strain injuries are beginning to be widely recognized as a serious occupational risk for sonographers. The goal of this study was to establish the incidence of musculoskeletal symptomatology and repetitive strain injuries in sonographers from Washington state and Oregon and to correlate certain physical attributes, work load, and work habits with the reporting rates of musculoskeletal symptomatology and repetitive strain injuries. The data for this study were gathered through a comprehensive questionnaire. Eighteen percent of respondents suffered no symptoms; 66% suffered symptoms without repetitive strain injury, and 15% were diagnosed with repetitive strain injury. The analysis revealed that a positive correlation exists between certain ergonomically unsound work habits and increased symptomatology. The proportion of repetitive strain injury- diagnosed sonographers tended to increase with more years in the profession. The reporting rate of musculoskeletal symptomatology and repetitive strain injuries also appeared to be influenced by other variables, such as gender, work load, and stress in the workplace.