ANALYSIS OF PROLONGED MICROSCOPE USAGE RELATED HEALTH DISORDERS
Dr. Sapam Chingkhei Lakpa* and Dr. P. Karkuzhali
ABSTRACT
Health personnel using microscope for longer duration can result in discomfort and injuries which may lead to disability. Work related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are medical conditions affecting the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage or intervertebral discs. Ergonomic risk factors are most likely to cause or contribute to an MSD. Based on questionnaire study conducted on laboratory doctors and technicians, few health issues related to prolonged use of microscope was surveyed. The majority of medical personnel using traditional microscope and improper sitting posture have frequent complaints of eye pain, neck pain and headache with varying degree of severity. Use of non-ergonomic microscope and improper chair height can affect the neutral spine position. Loss of such neutral spine position may lead to MSDs over a period of time. Epiphora, eye pain, dizziness and neck pain are more frequent in ametropic respondents. Frequency of resting intervals reduces frequency of complaints as shown, in the magnitude of complaints becoming lesser in more frequent resting intervals. Use of traditional microscope and improper sitting posture frequently leads to health problems such as microscope motion sickness, headache, eye pain, neck pain, low back ache, fatigability, and in long term may lead to cervical spondylosis and other MSDs. Such problems are less frequent in users of ergonomic microscopes and those practicing proper sitting posture and interval exercise.
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