Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Editorial
. 2021 Aug 15;7(5Part B):863-866.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2021.08.006. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Ergonomic solutions for dermatologists

Affiliations
Editorial

Ergonomic solutions for dermatologists

Sama K Carley et al. Int J Womens Dermatol. .
No abstract available

Keywords: Ergonomics; exercises; musculoskeletal injury; workplace injury.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
Stretching exercises. (A) Doorway pectoral stretch to reduce rounding of shoulders. Stretch is accomplished by placing arm as shown in open doorway and gently walking forward into doorway, rotating slightly away from elevated arm to feel stretch along anterior chest wall. (B) Standing latissimus stretch to reducing rounding of shoulders. As you pull bent elbow farther overhead, you will feel stretch along posterior aspect of arm. (C) Kneeling hip flexor stretch to reduce pelvic tilt and strain on lumbar spine. Assume position as shown in picture. Tighten glute muscles and gently slide hips forward. Stretch is felt along anterior portion of the hip. (D) Seated cervical stretch to reduce stress and tension in shoulders and neck. Tilt head toward one shoulder and apply gentle pressure with your arm. Stretch is felt along lateral aspect of neck.
Fig 2
Fig. 2
Strengthening exercises. (A) Starting and ending position for external rotation rotator cuff strengthening with resistance band. Slowly rotate arm out and back, as shown in picture, and repeat to fatigue in shoulder. (B) Starting position for standing scapular retraction. Assume position shown and row arms backward against band resistance while pinching shoulder blades together. (C) Plank exercise for core strengthening while maintaining spinal alignment. Assume position shown while maintaining glute and core contraction for stabilization of the pelvis and lower back. (D) Cervical stabilization strengthening with chin tuck into rolled towel. Assume position shown and perform gentle chin tuck to press down into towel that is rolled under the neck.
Fig 3
Fig. 3
Ergonomic tools. (A) Resting foot stand and chair with brakes for prolonged seated postures, especially at a microscope. The foot stand can provide stability and relieve tension on the hip flexors. Chairs should be close enough to the desk space to allow for lower back support. (B) Surgical loupes allow for visualization of the field while maintaining an upright posture, reducing cervical flexion. (C) Anti-fatigue mats at sites of prolonged standing to relieve pressure on the soles of the feet.

References

    1. Bhatia AC, Xu S, Robinson JK. The need for ergonomics education in dermatology and dermatologic surgery: Sit up straight, stand up tall, and carry a sharp scalpel. JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153(1):13–14. - PubMed
    1. Chan J, Kim DJ, Kassira-Carley S, Rotunda AM, Lee PK. Ergonomics in dermatologic surgery: Lessons learned across related specialties and opportunities for improvement. Dermatol Surg. 2020;46(6):763–772. - PubMed
    1. Dong J, Abrouk M, Chesnut C. Use of kinesiology tape in dermatologic surgery to improve surgeon posture and decrease long-term strain and injury. Dermatol Surg. 2021;47(6):876–877. - PubMed
    1. Droeze EH, Jonsson H. Evaluation of ergonomic interventions to reduce musculoskeletal disorders of dentists in the Netherlands. Work Read Mass. 2005;25(3):211–220. - PubMed
    1. Esser AC, Koshy JG, Randle HW. Ergonomics in office-based surgery: A survey-guided observational study. Dermatol Surg. 2007;33(11):1304–1314. - PubMed

Publication types