Direct Measures of Physical Factors Contributing to Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Diagnostic Medical Sonographers: A Pilot Study
Loading...
Date
2011-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
Diagnostic medical sonographers are very often exposed to factors that contribute to workplace injury which have been categorized as work-related musculoskeletal disorders (or WRMSD). This problem has become increasingly common as the number of sonographic exams increases. A study to determine the height of the sonographers, dimensions of the workspace, and other factors would be helpful in better understanding the potential for work-related injuries among sonographers. Survey research has only provided indirect information and these reports need to be directly verified. This undergraduate research project is an effort to better understand workplace injury risk by directly observing sonographers while scanning and evaluated their postures and positions. The measurements of posture and position are based on a Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) scoring form. Direct measures were taken of the sonographers’ heights, exam table heights, and the dimensions of the machine. The Chi square statistic will be used in the analysis to determine a correlation between the direct measures (independent variables) and the individual sonographers’ pain scores from the beginning of each day and the end of each day. It is predicted that the pain scores will be directly related to the RULA scores and the sonographer heights will be directly related to exam table heights. This study begins to capture workplace factors that may plague sonographers and contribute to WRMSD. The goal is to modify these factors in order to prevent these injuries from occurring.
Description
3rd Place--Denman Undergraduate Research Forum
Keywords
work-related musculoskeletal disorders, ergonomics, diagnostic medical sonography