Musculoskeletal pain amongst Australian sonography students and recent graduates and an evaluation of the use of ergonomic education for prevention.

Introduction/purpose: Sonographers develop pain whilst scanning and may not consistently adhere to ergonomic recommendations. The aim was to quantify this within Australian sonography students and recent graduates and to determine whether a relationship exists between: (i) pain and failure to adhere to ergonomic recommendations; and (ii) theoretical and practical ergonomic education during university and clinical placement, and the adherence to recommendations.

Methods: Online questionnaire distributed to Australian student sonographers and sonographers until two years post-graduation.