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

Neck and upper extremity pain in sonographers - a longitudinal study

Jenny Gremark Simonsen  1 , Anna Axmon  2 , Catarina Nordander  2 , Inger Arvidsson  2
Affiliations

Neck and upper extremity pain in sonographers - a longitudinal study

Jenny Gremark Simonsen et al. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. .

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Health status at follow-up among participants without (N = 80) and with (N = 125) pain in the neck/shoulders at baseline
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Health status at follow-up among participants without (N = 145) and with (N = 63) pain in the elbows/hands at baseline
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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