Tattoo Artist Ergonomics

19 May

By Bill Hartman #tattooartistergonomics #tattooartistwristpain #tattooartisthealth #tattooergonomics #ergonomics , 0 Comments

Attention Tattoo Artists: Your Body is Your Career.

Neck pain? Shoulder tension? Hand numbness after long sessions?

You're not alone. Research shows tattoo artists face musculoskeletal risks similar to dental professionals—but without the same ergonomic support and resources.

I've compiled a research bibliography that can help you understand what's causing the following:

✓ Chronic neck and shoulder pain

✓ Lower back strain

✓ Carpal tunnel syndrome

✓ Career-ending musculoskeletal disorders

What's inside:

Peer-reviewed studies from Applied Ergonomics, Occupational Medicine, and other journals documenting which postures cause the most damage, evidence-based interventions that work, and real data from hundreds of tattoo artists.

Your art shouldn't cost you your health. Understanding the science behind workplace injuries can help you make better decisions about your workstation, posture, and rest breaks.

Additional Context

Key findings from this body of research indicate that tattoo artists experience high rates of musculoskeletal discomfort (particularly in the neck, shoulders, back, and upper extremities) due to prolonged static postures, repetitive movements, and inadequate ergonomic equipment. Studies have drawn parallels between the occupational hazards faced by tattoo artists and those experienced by dental professionals, though tattoo artists lack the established ergonomic guidelines and organizational support available in dentistry.

The research is out there. Your body will thank you for reading it.

Select Bibliography

Bonato, Fernanda, Massayuki Mário Hara, Ana Carolina Bonini Penteado, and Rodrigo Eduardo Catai. "Ergonomics Analysis of Tattoo Artists." Fiep Bulletin- Online 87, no. 1 (January 2017).

https://ojs.fiepbulletin.net/fiepbulletin/article/view/5801/12307

An ergonomic analysis of Brazilian tattoo artists at work, identifying harmful postures capable of causing injuries and disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Grieshaber, D. Christian, Matthew M. Marshall, and Thomas J. Fuller. "Symptoms of Musculoskeletal Disorders among Tattoo Artists." In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, edited by Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 56, no. 1 (2012): 1158–62.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1071181312561252

Free Abstract. Fee for full article.

The first major survey of musculoskeletal symptoms among tattoo artists.

Keester, Dana Lani, and Carolyn M. Sommerich. "Investigation of Musculoskeletal Discomfort, Work Postures, and Muscle Activation among Practicing Tattoo Artists." Applied Ergonomics 58 (January 2017): 137–43.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000368701630117X?via%3Dihub

Free synopsis. Fee for full article.

The landmark study directly measuring physical stresses in tattoo artists.

Kluger, Nicolas. "National Survey of Health in the Tattoo Industry: Observational Study of 448 French Tattooists." International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health 30, no. 1 (February 2017): 111–20.

https://ijomeh.eu/pdf-61251-7140?filename=National%20survey%20of%20health.pdf

Large-scale health survey of 448 French tattoo artists.

Ohio State University (News). “Being a Tattoo Artist Is a Pain in the Neck, Study Finds.” Ohio State University News, February 16, 2017. ⁠https://news.osu.edu/being-a-tattoo-artist-is-a-pain-in-the-neck-study-finds/

News article about Keester and Sommerich's research (2017). See above.

Ozcan, Umit. "The Health of Tattoo Artists." European Journal of Environment and Public Health 7, no. 2 (2023): em0131.

https://www.ejeph.com/download/the-health-of-tattoo-artists-12694.pdf

Interviews with 12 Amsterdam tattoo artists.

Scully, Mary-Beth. "Contour Tattoo Workstation Workflow & Comfort." Bachelor's thesis, Humber College, 2023.

https://appliedtechnology.humber.ca/assets/files/industrial-design-2023/grads-pdfs/Mary_Beth_Scully.pdf

Wagner, Adeline, Steven M. Gerardi, and Rebecca Overberg. "Tattoo Artist Ergonomics: An Educational Video Series." Poster presented at the Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, April 2024.

https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2024/26/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtBX7hOiBm0&list=PLz6Hx-1PU10x6ZxcK6cwLGbPLqOym6u4q

Weisman, Asaf, Tomer Yona, Uri Gottlieb, Roee Ingel, and Youssef Masharawi. "Tattoo Artists and Dental Workers Have Similar Musculoskeletal Pain Patterns." Occupational Medicine 72, no. 1 (January 2022): 43-50.

https://academic.oup.com/occmed/article/72/1/43/6409755

Comparative study showing similarities between tattoo artists and dental workers.

#TattooArtist #Ergonomics #OccupationalHealth #TattooIndustry #WorkplaceSafety

Tags: #tattooartistergonomics #tattooartistwristpain #tattooartisthealth #tattooergonomics #ergonomics ,

Tattoo Artist Ergonomics

Attention Tattoo Artists: Your Body is Your Career.

What's inside:

Additional Context

Select Bibliography

Blog Comments