Wearing Your Stethoscope on Your Neck May Lead to Neck Pain

How many times have you seen TV shows or photos of healthcare professionals jump into action and conveniently reach for their stethoscope which is draped over their neck? Frequently I am sure.  However, after leaving the TV or the photo shoot, is it really a good idea to wear your stethoscope on your neck for 8-12 hours? In real life, our stethoscopes are dirty. Do you really want to keep this on your neck? More importantly, wearing a stethoscope on your neck, no matter how light it may seem to be, can get heavy at the end of the day. Repeating this behavior daily for years can affect your posture and contribute to neck pain.

Recently with the expansion of computer workstations and telemedicine, we find ourselves in seated positions, leaning over a computer keyboard. We all have a cell phone and we have our necks bent more than ever. All of these activities can lead to neck pain and possibly arthritis of the cervical spine.  Repeated stress on any joint can lead to arthritis. One of my patients, who is a physical therapist, commented on my posture one day.  She asked me why my head was leaning forward.  I was not aware of my posture. She corrected me and I realized I had been doing that learned behavior for a long time. I started looking around the clinic and noticed other people with that similar lean. Considering the number of healthcare professionals over their entire careers who may develop this posture, this can lead to a significant number of people having stress to the cervical spine and chronic neck pain.

I stopped wearing my stethoscope over my neck and put a note on my computer reminding me to ‘STOP LEANING’. I started putting my stethoscope in the pocket of my white coat but that made my coat lean to the right. This was annoying and I felt this could be an issue much later. A friend mentioned using a stethoscope holder. 

I bought one and I love it.  I have my stethoscope nearby and I don’t have any pressure on my neck. I bought a few different types of holders and gave them a try. I will give you my opinion of the ones I purchased so you can buy one that fits in the stethoscope pocket of your Valmasi scrubs.

First, a generic plastic clip.  This one is called HIP CLIP. This plastic clip is better designed for a belt loop, not sliding in a pocket on the scrubs. The smooth plastic does not grip, thus it slides up when you remove your stethoscope.  If you are wearing pants with a belt, it would probably work fine. Second, I heard about BATCLIP. There were some ‘Batclip’ knockoffs on Amazon. Well, I took the bait. The velcro did not last very long. You get what you pay for. I went back and  bought the BATCLIP brand. They say they are the ultimate stethoscope clip.  I have to say, I was pleased.  The velcro lasts and the leather is sturdy. I like the ease with which I can remove and secure my stethoscope. It is a nice size and they have different colors to choose (in case you want to match the color to your scrubs). Lastly, I bought a MotivatEM stethoscope holder. This one is a different style and is larger than BATCLIP. This threads the tubing of the stethoscope through its metal hook and side grooves. I felt my stethoscope was secure. They offer 3 different ways to loop your stethoscope. It takes a few seconds longer to secure it compared to BATCLIP. My stethoscope also looked neater and laid flatter threaded through the metal clips instead of wrapped by the leather straps of the BATCLIP. The metal clip that attaches to the scrub pocket rotates on the MotivatEM holder but not on BATCLIP.  This allows the stethoscope to bend in the seat and not hang down the side of the chair. Because MotivatEM is metal, it is slightly heavier.

Ultimately, you will have to decide on which works for you. I like both BATCLIP and MotivatEM but for different reasons. There are many more types of clips and holders available. I encourage you to try some of them and see which works for you. The stethoscope pocket on Valmasi scrubs is 1 ½ inches wide so remember the metal clip cannot be wider than that. You will find plenty of clips that will fit in that pocket. Whichever you decide, your neck will appreciate you for it.

If you are interested in the buying one of the stethoscope clips that I mentioned above:

BATCLIP   http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0038S8E9U/ref=nosin?tag=valmasi11-20

MotivatEM http://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZXQWL6G/reg=nosin?tag=valmasi11-20 

Valmasi receives a commission off any purchases you make with my referral link.

Neck Untethered: Keep your neck pain-free

Now that you got the stethoscope off of your neck, now we have to keep your neck muscles soft and flexible. Take breaks while charting on the computer and do some movements to help your neck.

1. Chin tucks. Sitting straight up, tuck your chin towards your chest, hold for 5 seconds. Repeat.

2. Neck stretches. Gently tilt your neck to the left bringing your ear close to your shoulder, hold 5 seconds and repeat on the other side.

3. Neck rotations. Look straight ahead, then slowly turn to the left, hold 10 seconds, then repeat on the right.

4. Shoulder shrugs. Look straight ahead, slowly raise both shoulders, hold 5 seconds and return to the starting position.

You are probably doing something like this throughout the day already. Try to make a concerted effort to do them regularly. When in bed, make sure your pillow keeps your neck neutral.  Your cervical spine should be straight. Yoga is another way to help strengthen muscles and become more flexible. Improved flexibility will help decrease muscle strain and chronic pain.  Making small adjustments in your daily routine can help keep your neck from added stress and possibly decrease your risk of developing arthritis of the cervical spine.  This is important, not only for healthcare professionals but anyone working and doing repetitive movements or postures on the job.