title: Ergonomic design and evaluation of a diagnostic ultrasound transducer holder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are injuries and disorders that affect the body's movement and musculoskeletal system. Awkward postures represent one of the major ergonomic risk factors that cause WMSDs among sonographers while working with an ultrasound transducer. This study aimed to design and evaluate a new holder for the ultrasound transducer.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the first phase a new holder was designed for the transducer, considering design principles. Evaluation of the new holder was then carried out by electrogoniometry and a locally perceived discomfort (LPD) scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The application of design principles to the new holder resulted in an improvement of wrist posture and comfort. Wrist angles in extension, flexion, radial deviation and ulnar deviation were lower with utilization of the new holder. The severity of discomfort based on the LPD method in the two modes of work with and without the new holder was reported with values of 1.3 and 1.8, respectively (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, this study indicated that applying ergonomics design principles was effective in minimizing wrist deviation and increasing comfort while working with the new holder.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ergonomics , Iran University of Medical Sciences , Iran.
authors.forename: Mohamad Sadegh
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ghasemi
authors.affiliation: b Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Iran.
authors.forename: Payam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hosseinzadeh
authors.affiliation: b Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Iran.
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zamani
authors.affiliation: c Lolagar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmadpoor
authors.affiliation: d Occupational Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Iran.
authors.forename: Naser
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1818-5360
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dehghan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D011187:Posture; D013336:Students, Health Occupations; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014953:Wrist
keywords: discomfort; electrogoniometry; ergonomic design; ultrasound transducer; work-related musculoskeletal disorders