Research
1) Catheterization Lab Worker Pain & Injury Survey (SCAI, 2025)
Excerpt:
“About two-thirds of the respondents (66%) reported having experienced musculoskeletal pain related to wearing lead or working in the CCL, and 60% reported having at least 1 orthopedic injury… Only 18% reported no injuries from working in the CCL.” (PMC)
Full web address:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12038281/
2) Back Pain & Lead Apron Use Among Staff (2021)
Excerpt:
“The total prevalence of back pain in regular lead apron users was 62% and of those, 83% felt that their back pain had been exacerbated or caused by wearing lead aprons… Three members of staff missed work due to pain from wearing lead aprons and three members … had considered changing careers to avoid wearing them.” (PMC)
Full web address:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8597674/
3) Interventionists’ Body Aches from Lead Aprons (2018)
Excerpt:
“About 47% reported that they had body aches due to wearing single-sided aprons… Interventionists working more than 10 h/day wearing single-sided lead apron predominantly complained of shoulder pain and back pain.” (Journal of Clinical Imaging Science)
Full web address:
https://clinicalimagingscience.org/a-study-on-the-use-of-radiation-protective-apron-among-interventionists-in-radiology/
4) Pain More Often in Lead-Apron Workers (Mayo Clinic Survey)
Excerpt:
“Employees who were required to wear a lead apron reported more work-related pain and reported seeking medical care for pain more often… Pain was reported most often among technicians (62 percent) and nurses (60 percent)…” (DAIC)
Full web address:
https://www.dicardiology.com/article/working-interventional-laboratory-may-lead-health-problems
5) Systematic Review of Lead Apron Musculoskeletal Issues (2020)
Excerpt:
“Although there is no complete agreement … the possible discomfort of workers using anti-X aprons appears more evident. All included studies highlighted discomfort, fatigue, or awkwardness of movement … significant discomfort increases in the neck, shoulders, and lumbar spine among subjects while wearing a lead apron.” (MDPI)
Full web address:
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5877
6) Classic Study: Angiographers & Lead Aprons (2000)
Excerpt:
“They clearly showed that the cardiologists who wore lead aprons had a significantly higher incidence of skeletal complaints and more days missed from work because of back pain … Wearing a 15-pound lead apron can place pressures … on intervertebral disks.” (PMC)
Full web address:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8174912/
Key Takeaway from These Publications
Across multiple studies and surveys of interventional and imaging staff:
Back pain prevalence among regular lead-apron users ranges ~47–66% or higher. (PMC)
Nearly half to two-thirds of staff attribute or associate pain with lead-apron use. (PMC)
Some survey data show clinically significant orthopedic/musculoskeletal injuries and even work absenteeism or career considerations related to apron use. (PMC)
These are specific to doctors
Here are text excerpts + full web addresses from research and reporting that specifically mention lead-apron use and musculoskeletal pain/injury among physicians (interventional cardiologists, radiologists, catheterization lab doctors):
1) SCAI survey of interventional cardiologists (2023)
Excerpt:
“Occupational hazards can contribute to career-ending events such as… physical injuries and pain due to wearing protective radiation aprons… Orthopedic injuries were reported in 59.8% of respondents… the impact of these events… is critically important in interventional cardiology.” (PMC)
Full address:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12038281/
2) Mayo Clinic interventional lab physician survey
Excerpt:
“Employees who were required to wear a lead apron reported more work-related pain… Pain was reported most often among technicians (62%), nurses (60%), followed by attending physicians (44%) and trainees (19%).” (American College of Cardiology)
3) Multisite case-control study (JACC) — physicians included
Excerpt:
“Clinical employees with occupational exposure to procedures involving radiation requiring lead apron use reported experiencing work-related pain…” (JACC)
Full address:
https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2014.11.056
4) Older study of interventional radiologists (MSD prevalence)
Excerpt:
“Back pain was reported by more than 50% of respondents who wore a lead apron…” (Interventional radiologists, many of whom are physicians.) (ScienceDirect)
Full address:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1051044320302025
5) Cross-sectional physician survey on lead apron restrictions
Excerpt:
“461 questionnaires… 87% reported regularly wearing a lead apron… Prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints ranged from 50% to 82%…” (Physicians and other clinicians.) (PMC)
Full address:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12439371/
6) TCTMD report: cardiologists and lead burden
Excerpt:
“Interventional cardiologists experience painful back and neck injuries linked to the occupational burden of wearing heavy lead.” (tctmd.com)
Full address:
https://www.tctmd.com/news/weight-lifetime-lead-cardiologists-seek-ease-burden
7) Clinical commentary on physicians’ musculoskeletal toll
Excerpt:
“Given the toll that wearing a lead apron takes on an interventional cardiologist’s body… pain, missing days of work, or undergoing orthopedic operations.” (tctmd.com)
Full address:
https://www.tctmd.com/news/your-interventional-career-scourge-your-musculoskeletal-system
8) MDPI systematic review (includes physician data)
Excerpt:
“Many included studies assessed that the rates of neck and back disease were increased in interventional physicians and angiographers.” (MDPI)
Full address:
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5877
Summary of physician-focused data points
These publications report that:
~44% of physicians reported work-related pain from radiation procedures involving lead apron use. (American College of Cardiology)
Older interventional radiologist surveys show >50% reporting back pain with significant lead-apron use. (ScienceDirect)
Musculoskeletal complaints among clinicians regularly wearing aprons ranged 50–82%. (PMC)
Cardiologists frequently describe neck/back injury cumulative toll over careers. (tctmd.com)
Systematic review evidence supports an association between apron use and spine disorders in interventional physicians. (MDPI)