MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS IN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the musculoskeletal disorders that most affect sign language interpreters. This is a systematic review in accordance with the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, and its protocol is registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database under registration number CRD42020178849. The studies were selected from a search in the following databases: Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde; Scientific Electronic Library Online; ScienceDirect; Scopus Elsevier; United States National Library of Medicine; Web of Science. Eleven studies were included in this review after applying the eligibility criteria in 1007 scientific articles found. Sign language interpreters have a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, for example, tendinitis, especially in the upper limbs, due to professional demand with an extensive workload, no rotation, no support and little rest time.