Musculoskeletal disorders among sonographers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Medical Imaging
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Sonography involves significant ergonomic risk factors.
• Sonographers are a high-risk group for developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
• This study systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed the prevalence of MSDs in sonographers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the overall prevalence of MSDs among sonographers.
• To identify the prevalence rates of MSDs in specific body regions for sonographers.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searches across multiple databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, etc.) until February 2024.
• Random-effects model meta-analysis of 30 studies involving 13,916 sonographers.

Main Results:

• Overall prevalence of MSDs among sonographers was 75.80% (95% CI: 65.37-86.23).
• High prevalence rates observed in the neck (63.73%), shoulder (60.13%), and upper back (53.69%).
• Specific prevalence rates for lower back, wrist, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle were also determined.

Conclusions:

• MSDs are highly prevalent among sonographers.
• Ergonomic assessments, interventions, and targeted training are recommended.
• Mitigating MSDs requires addressing specific job-related risk factors for sonographers.