Thought Leadership 2 min read

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSD) Grand Challenge

June 15, 2026

Stopping WRMSD injuries is an industry-wide challenge that needs industry-wide action. A pioneering alliance of leading ultrasound organizations joined together in this grand challenge to stop WRMSDs resulting from the performance of diagnostic medical ultrasound.

Pain from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) is a reality for many sonographers, physicians, and other medical professionals performing ultrasound examinations. Our grand challenge mission is to stop WRMSD’s and help these essential clinicians lead pain-free fulfilling careers and live productive lives.

Fast Facts:

Up to 90% of sonographers, physicians, and other medical professionals performing ultrasound examinations work in pain caused by work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD).

WRMSDs cost employers $120 billion each year in direct and indirect costs.

Achievements and Initiatives:

WRMSD Grand Challenge’s Longitudinal Research Study
Conducted by The Ohio State University in conjunction with the WRMSD Grand Challenge, the study gathered longitudinal data from a large cohort of physicians, sonographers, and vascular technologists to improve the understanding of health (wellness) of ultrasound users.

WRMSD Grand Challenge Design Summits
Day-long work program where progressive thinking professionals met to evaluate and improve the impact, metrics, coordination, funding, and communication necessary to deal with the WRMSD problem.

WRMSD Grand Challenge Virtual Student Solution Hack-a-Thon
The Virtual Student Solution Hack-a-thon consisted of four teams of students from multiple educational disciplines that competed to present a solution to eliminate WRMSDs.

The WRMSD Grand Challenge Alliance of Organizations: