The biggest work-related injuries in cardiology are orthopedic problems related to bending and twisting in odd positions over patients during cardiac ultrasound examinations. Wearing heavy lead aprons during catheterization labs and electrophysiology (EP) procedures exacerbates the condition. Over time, back pain can become debilitating and lead to early retirement.
A new pilot study by Mayo Clinic published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) looked at how stretching can increase range of motion and change the elastic properties of the muscle-tendon unit, suggesting that stretching may help employees overcome upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders.[1]
“We hypothesized that a regular stretching program would reduce the functional impact of pain in employees working in echocardiography, ultrasound, and interventional laboratories. This exploratory proof-of-concept study is intended to inform expectations for future randomized controlled studies,” explain the study’s lead author Russell Gelfman, MD, and colleagues. “We find that a regular stretching program may be an attractive, low-cost, non-invasive option for reducing upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders in employees working in echocardiography, ultrasound, and interventional laboratories. Larger randomized trials are needed to confirm this association.”
Gelfman, a neuromuscular specialist who studies work-related musculoskeletal disorders, teamed up with Mayo echocardiographers and interventional cardiologists to conduct the study. They enrolled 196 health care professionals working in the interventional and echo labs of Mayo Clinic’s cardiology and radiology departments to perform 15-minute stretches of the neck, upper extremities, lower back, and lower extremities over the course of a year. The functional impact of pain was self-reported using the Roland-Morris Questionnaire, administered at baseline and one year to measure the Disability Index of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand, the Neck Disability Index, and response to stretching. They were also monitored with an injury assessment schedule. Employees who were pregnant, unable to exercise, or receiving orthopedic treatment were excluded.