Echosonographers get hurt. A lot. According to a 2008 study by Coffin, 90% of us report incidence of muscular skeletal injuries. By picking up the probe, we often encounter a sore wrist, throbbing elbow, inflamed shoulder, and a numb hand. These injuries stem from multiple factors. We are scanning more patients, larger patients, and there is a higher demand on portable examination, which alters the sonographers’ work space. According to Coffin, there is increased patient load placed on individual sonographers due to patient overscheduling and staff reductions. In addition, sonographers also delay reporting injuries, often scanning through slight pain, which can lead to serious injuries and loss of work time.
Reducing the distance between the machine, the sonographer, and the patient will help minimize excessive reach enabling healthier shoulders and backs. By maintaining two anchoring points, one at the wrist and one at the elbow, sonographers can decrease strain placed on the shoulder and forearm. We also need to start utilizing vender specific features that can streamline scan time thus reducing injuries.
However, many on the job injuries can be prevented without major changes to our echo ergonomics. A simple five-minute flexibility program can maintain our health while scanning ( Figure 1 ). The following six exercises can be performed daily before and during your shift without the need for specific equipment. Hold each of the following positions for 30–40 seconds in a pain-free range-of-motion. These stretches can enable sonographers to maintain flexibility and stability, which are essential to preventing repetitive stress injuries.
Daniel Bourque, MS, RCS, FASE works at the Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando, Florida. He also serves on the faculty of the Gulf Coast Ultrasound Academy in St. Petersburg, Florida teaching emergency medicine and adult echo. His particular areas of interest include pulmonary hypertension, three dimensional imaging, and advanced valvular assessment.
