In this webinar
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are a common concern in healthcare, and sonographers are at particularly high risk. Sonographers hold awkward postures, make repetitive motions, and apply sustained hand force through the transducer to obtain high-quality images. With rising obesity rates, patient size has been proposed as another contributor, but its effect on sonographers is not well understood. This webinar is intended for sonographers, department leads, ergonomists, and health and safety professionals who want to understand where the greatest upper extremity demands lie.
This webinar will share findings from a study that used digital human modelling to examine how patient size, scan location and scan time affect the physical demands placed on sonographers. The study looked at a range of patient sizes and common scan locations, including the breast, kidney, shoulder and leg. Results showed that scan location and scan duration had the greatest impact on physical demands, while patient size had comparatively little influence.
Attendees will learn which scanning situations place the greatest demands on the upper body and why scan time matters. This work highlights the value of digital human modelling and simulation as a starting point for better understanding physical demands and identifying opportunities in work practices, equipment and scheduling to reduce MSD risk.
About the presenters
Dr. Michael Holmes
Michael Holmes, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Brock University where he holds a Canada Research Chair in Neuromuscular Mechanics and Ergonomics.
The overall goal of Dr. Holmes’ research program is to exploit an interdisciplinary approach that combines techniques from neurophysiology and biomechanics to identify mechanisms of fatigue, injury and pain. By improving our understanding of injury development and progression, the Holmes Lab aims to optimize human performance at work and sport by developing recommendations to minimize the risk of injury, maximize performance and inform safe work practices.
Dr. Alan Cudlip
Alan Cudlip, PhD, CCPE, is a Canadian Certified Professional Ergonomist with more than 15 years of experience in occupational health and safety, ergonomics, and injury prevention. He currently serves as a Workplace Wellbeing Consultant with the Public Services Health & Safety Association (PSHSA), where he supports public-sector organizations through physical, cognitive, and psychosocial risk assessments, workplace engagement initiatives, and knowledge translation projects.
Alan specializes in industrial and workplace task design, with a particular focus on applying biomechanical principles to improve worker safety, performance, and wellbeing. His experience conducting ergonomic assessments, workplace audits, physical demands analyses, and root-cause investigations has supported organizations across healthcare, manufacturing, municipal, and industrial sectors. He has extensive experience developing training programs, technical reports, standard operating procedures, and evidence-informed workplace interventions. His work frequently includes translating research into practical guidance for employers and workers through presentations, reports, and peer-reviewed publications.
Cameron Lang
Cameron Lang, MSc, is a PhD student in the Neuromechanics and Ergonomics Lab at Brock University. His current research examines muscle activity, kinematics, and posture of the upper extremity and back during computer work, comparing virtual/augmented reality and physical computer workstations. Previously, Cameron was supported by a CRE-MSD seed grant to evaluate the physical demands of ultrasound technicians, using digital human models to assess biomechanical loading and injury risk across patient body sizes.
Registration
This is a free webinar. Please complete the registration form below to reserve your spot.
For assistance, please contact Betina Butler at bbutler@uwaterloo.ca.
Disclaimer: CRE-MSD receives funding through a grant provided by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. The views expressed are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre nor of the Province of Ontario.