Smaller hands and less experience are associated with greater ergonomic strain during endoscopic procedures.
Surg Endosc
; 36(7): 5104-5109, 2022 07.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34845543
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Up to 89% of physicians who routinely perform endoscopy experience some type of musculoskeletal pain. In this study, we sought to quantitatively analyze provider factors that influence ergonomic strain during live endoscopic procedures.METHODS:
Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to measure ergonomic strain on physicians while performing upper and lower endoscopies. EMG data were normalized to a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) recording for each muscle group, yielding a %MVC value. Subgroup analyses were performed based on glove size, physician training level, specialty, and handedness.RESULTS:
A total of 165 upper (n = 68) and lower (n = 97) endoscopies were recorded. Endoscopists with small hand sizes had significantly higher ergonomic strain in the left anterior and posterior forearm muscle compartments as compared to endoscopists with medium or large hands (%MVC L-anterior small 9.1 ± 1.1; medium 6.4 ± 1.2; large 5.9 ± 1.6; p < 0.001); (%MVC L-posterior small 12.0 ± 0.8; medium 9.4 ± 1.3; large 8.8 ± 1.4; p < 0.001). Additionally, upper body muscle groups had significantly higher ergonomic strain in endoscopists with less lifetime endoscopic experience (%MVC R-trapezius expert 8.4 ± 1.2; novice 9.3 ± 1.2; p < 0.05); (%MVC R-deltoid expert 6.1 ± 1.4; novice 8.5 ± 1.3; p < 0.001). There were no significant ergonomic differences between surgeons or gastroenterologists and no differences between right- and left-handed dominant individuals.CONCLUSIONS:
Endoscopists with small hands experienced great ergonomic strain in their left forearm. Our data support the widely held belief that "one size does not fit all" and will hopefully spark change in the design of future endoscopes by device manufacturers. Our data also support that the experience level of the endoscopist contributed significantly to ergonomic performance, likely due to postural differences leading to decreased upper body strain. Therefore, it remains critically important to educate young proceduralists on strategies for ergonomic relief early in his or her endoscopic training program that can ameliorate ergonomic strain that accrues over the lifetime of a physician's career.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Laparoscopia
/
Cirurgiões
Tipo de estudo:
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Surg Endosc
Assunto da revista:
DIAGNOSTICO POR IMAGEM
/
GASTROENTEROLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos