Sign language interpreters at injury risk

ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 18 (UPI) -- Sign language interpreters, just like many workers who make repetitive hand motions, are at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, a U.S. study says.

The study, published in Ergonomic, found interpreting causes more physical stress than high-risk tasks conducted in industrial setting such as assembly line work.

Researchers at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y., found a direct link between increased mental and cognitive stress in the interpreter and increased risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries.

"The impact of repetitive stress in industrial and office settings has been well documented, but there is less data on the risk of ergonomic injury to sign language interpreters," study leader Matthew Marshall said in a statement. "Our findings indicate that interpreters may actually be at a higher risk of injury than other professions."

The study said wrist velocity and acceleration during interpreting -- factors used in industry to measure physical impact -- were more acute than the high-risk limits for industrial workers. In addition, an increase in mental and cognitive stress led to a 15 percent to 19 percent increase in wrist velocity and acceleration during interpreting.