Neck and upper extremity pain in sonographers - a longitudinal study

BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2020 Mar 12;21(1):156. doi: 10.1186/s12891-020-3096-9.

Abstract

Background: Sonographers have reported a high occurrence of musculoskeletal pain for more than 25 years. Assessments of occupational risk factors have previously been based on cross-sectional surveys. The aim of this longitudinal study was to determine which factors at baseline that were associated with neck/shoulder and elbow/hand pain at follow-up.

Methods: A questionnaire was answered by 248 female sonographers at baseline and follow-up (85% of the original cohort). 208 were included in the analyses. Physical, visual, and psychosocial work-related conditions were assessed at baseline. Pain in two body regions (neck/shoulders and elbows/hands) was assessed at both baseline and follow up.

Results: Pain at baseline showed the strongest association with pain at follow-up in both body regions [prevalence ratio (PR) 2.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.50-2.76], for neck/shoulders and (PR 3.45; CI 2.29-5.22) for elbows/hands. Neck/shoulder pain at follow-up was associated with inability of ergonomic adjustments at the ultrasound device (PR 1.25; CI 1.05-1.49), a high mechanical exposure index (PR 1.66; CI 1.09-2.52), and adverse visual conditions (PR 1.24; CI 1.00-1.54) at baseline. Moreover, among participants with no neck/shoulder pain at baseline, high job demands (PR 1.78; CI 1.01-3.12), and a high mechanical exposure index (PR 2.0; CI 0.98-4.14) predicted pain at follow-up. Pain in the elbows/hands at follow-up was associated with high sensory demands at baseline (PR 1.63; CI 1.08-2.45), and among participants without pain at baseline high sensory demands predicted elbow/hand pain at follow-up (PR 3.34; CI 1.53-7.31).

Conclusion: Pain at baseline was the strongest predictor for pain at follow-up in both body regions. We also found several occupational factors at baseline that were associated with pain at follow-up: inability to adjust equipment, adverse visual conditions, a high MEI, high job demands and high sensory demands. These results point at a possibility to influence pain with better ergonomics.

Keywords: Diagnostic imaging; Physical; Psychosocial; Ultrasonography; Visual ergonomics; Women; Working conditions.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Computer Terminals*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Echocardiography*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Middle Aged
  • Musculoskeletal Pain / epidemiology*
  • Neck Pain / epidemiology*
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Prevalence
  • Regression Analysis
  • Risk Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sweden / epidemiology
  • Ultrasonography
  • Upper Extremity
  • Vision Disorders / epidemiology
  • Workload
  • Young Adult

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