Pain Levels and Injuries by Sonographic Specialty: A Research Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether there was a difference in reported pain and perceived pain levels in different sonography specialties. Materials and Methods: An online survey was sent to 28 302 sonographers by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). Sonographers had to be registered and located within the United States to meet inclusion criteria. Results: There were 7993 sonographers who completed the questionnaire. The percentage of sonographers who reported scanning in pain across all specialties was 66.25%, with an average pain level of 4.0. The highest pain and injury levels were reported in the cardiac, vascular, and obstetrics/gynecology specialties. Sonographers scanning greater than 18 scans per day or greater than 30 minutes had the highest levels of perceived pain. Conclusion: According to these study results, reported pain in sonographers is decreasing. Certain specialties within sonography are more prone to injury and higher pain levels.