Ergonomics in ophthalmology a lifelong project
For Nicole Bajic, MD, learning more about ergonomics was a necessity.
In 2018, in her last year of residency, she was rearended by a work truck on a Chicago highway and suffered a herniated disc in her neck.
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“It was then that I knew I needed to protect my neck and my back,” she said at Real World Ophthalmology. “I regularly woke up with a frozen neck, which was a huge limitation in the OR and in the clinic.”
Musculoskeletal disorders are common among health care professionals, Bajic said, and ophthalmology is no different. In 2010, a survey found that approximately 72% of ophthalmic plastic surgeons experienced neck or back pain while operating. Another study determined that the greatest predictors of neck or lower back pain were seeing more than 100 patients, performing at least four surgeries and performing at least six lasers per week.
Bajic provided some easy steps ophthalmologists can follow throughout their day to improve comfort and reduce their risk for musculoskeletal disorders.
In the clinic, Bajic said physicians need to take note of their posture throughout the day and understand how improper positioning stacks up over time. She suggested that ophthalmologists adjust their oculars to ensure better neck positioning, sit rather than lean over to write and be careful not to over-rotate their wrists while using the slit lamp.
In the operating room, Bajic said it is important to keep a neutral position and not to stoop over, bending the neck and back. She recommended that surgeons should angle their scopes 13° away and lower their seat height.
Bajic said ophthalmologists can also do some simple stretches and exercises at home to help them improve their ergonomics. She said kettlebell rotations, horizontal and vertical shrugs, and inverted rows can help strengthen the muscles that ophthalmologists use on a daily basis.
“Ergonomics is a lifelong project, so practice these good habits now,” she said. “Consistency really is key. You can reactivate old injuries at any time.”
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Bajic N. Protecting your back and neck when it counts. Presented at: Real World Ophthalmology; Nov. 5, 2022 (virtual meeting).
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