Narrative review highlights the prevalence and prevention strategies for musculoskeletal disorders in ultrasound professionals, emphasizing the need for effective management.
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) remain a major occupational health concern in ultrasound practice. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of 30 studies involving 13,916 sonographers reported a pooled prevalence of 75.8%, with the neck, shoulder, upper back, and wrist/hand most frequently affected. Consequences range from transient pain and reduced efficiency to prolonged absence from work and premature career termination. WRMSDs arise from the combined effects of sustained shoulder abduction, repetitive upper-extremity movement, forceful transducer pressure, non-neutral posture, high workload, insufficient recovery time, and limited organizational support. Psychosocial stress and burnout are also relevant because they share common workplace determinants with WRMSDs and may aggravate their clinical and occupational consequences. Risk is particularly high in cardiac, vascular, portable, and technically difficult examinations. Prevention requires a multilevel approach that includes engineering controls, administrative measures, work-practice modification, rehabilitation, and continuous ergonomics education. Protection of operator health should be considered an essential component of maintaining diagnostic quality and sustaining the ultrasound workforce.
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Jang et al. (2026) studied this question.
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