Effects of prolonged microscopic work on neck and back strain amongst male ENT clinicians and the benefits of a prototype postural support chair |
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| Authors: | Ananth Vijendren Gavin Devereux Bruno Kenway Kathy Duffield Vincent Van Rompaey Paul van de Heyning |
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| Institution: | 1. Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, UK;2. Faculty of Health and Science, University Campus Suffolk, UK;3. Occupational Health and Ergonomics, Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, UK;4. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium;5. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Antwerp University Hospital, Belgium |
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| Abstract: | Musculoskeletal pain is a common occupational hazard experienced by surgeons. Ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons are predisposed to neck and back pain due to regular prolonged microscopic work. We conducted a prospective pilot study to investigate the effects of sustained microscopic work on the neck and back, its correlation to surgical experience and to assess the benefits of a prototype postural support chair (PSC) amongst 10 male, ENT clinicians. We used a subjective measure of time to fatigue and pain for the neck and back as well as objective readings from a surface electromyogram (sEMG). We found that an increase in surgical experience correlated with the time taken to experience fatigue and pain in the neck and back. This was corroborated by our sEMG findings. The PSC significantly delayed the sensations in the neck and also eliminated the difference seen amongst the varying seniority of clinicians. |
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| Keywords: | posture musculoskeletal pain otological surgical procedures otolaryngology |
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