Scanning the journals

Practice Guidelines for Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Obstetric Sonography Rousseau T, Mottet N, Mace G, Franceschini C, Sagot P Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine 2013; 32: 157–164 It is important that all sonographers know the different musculoskeletal disorders related to their work. Their prevalence is five times higher amongst sonographers than in the general population. It is likely we all know someone in the profession, who has had to have time off, had remedial therapy, including surgery, or, in the worst case, has had to quit sonography altogether because of musculoskeletal problems. It makes sense that his article should be read by us all. It shows how to work appropriately to reduce risk and emphasises the ergonomics of work station and posture. The French authors from Dijon believe that ultrasound equipment manufacturers and sonographers should cooperate to develop better ergonomically designed ultrasound units. Tom Brown, now approaching 80, the designer of the original ultrasound static B scanning machine in Glasgow in the 50s believes that a robotic aid could help reduce the problem and eliminate the ‘ergonomic absurdities’ of the machines we use today.