Redistribution of Radiation Protective Apron Weight for Musculoskeletal Health, Fatigue, and Improved Ergonomics: The G-LIFT

Can you tell us about your practice?

I am an interventional cardiologist and have been in practice since 2004. I perform coronary and peripheral vascular interventions, as well as structural procedures.

How did you notice that you were having musculoskeletal issues?

When I was reading at night, my hands would be a little numb and tingly. I thought maybe it was due to the way I was exercising on the bike, because I was training for a triathlon. At that time, I didn’t really put it together that my issues were from wearing lead all day. Certainly, as interventional cardiologists, we are always worried, because we have seen our mentors, who we work with throughout our training, suffer neck pain and back discomfort. When I heard about the G-LIFT, I had just returned from a 12-day Boy Scout backpacking trip with my son. Bill Buchanan, who is one of the interventionalists who came up with the G-LIFT after an injury, suggested I give it a try. I had just been wearing a hiking backpack for 12 days, so I had experience with the concept behind the G-LIFT. Thinking it would be more preventative, I tried it, but I noticed my hand numbness and tingling went away, even though I had been attributing it to my exercise routine. Since then, I have been a believer. I have been wearing the G-LIFT for about four years. Now I just simply won’t do a case without it. It just makes life easier. In these long structural cases, I’ll be scrubbed in with somebody else who is not wearing it and I see them bending over and slightly groaning, and it is clear that their back is sore. They are not saying it, but you know the movements from having done them yourself. Meanwhile, I am feeling pretty good. I am carrying the same extra weight, but it is all transferred to the hips. I find long cases don’t bother me like they used to.