Ergonomic factors that cause the presence of pain muscle in students of dentistry

Abstract

Objective: To identify the ergonomic factors and the presence of muscular pain in dental students of VIII, IX, X semesters presently practicing at the clinics of the College of Dentistry of university of Cartagena, Colombia, South America. Materials and methods: This is a descriptive study carried out in dental students of the VIII, IX, and X semesters which were undergoing clinical practice at the College of Dentistry of University of Cartagena. A convenience sample of 83 students who met the inclusion criteria was taken and those who agreed to participate signed an informed consent. Data collection was obtained by means of a structured questionnaire for ergonomic factors and the presence of pain was identified palpating the muscles object of the study by a physical therapist. The variables evaluated were: presence of pain, affected muscles, affected zones, gender, postures and work environment. Results: The adoption of inadequate postures such as exaggerated flexions or cervical torsions could generate a higher frequency of muscular pain in dental students. The approximating muscle of the thumb showed 11% frequency of pain. The presence of muscular pain was higher for the female group participating in this study. Conclusions: Dentists are prone, since the beginning of their clinical practice as students, to lesions of the skeletal muscle system due to the clinical exercise of the profession, being the most common, muscle pain in the back, neck, shoulders and hands. This would imply initiating an occupational health program promoting healthy lifestyles in their academic environment and their future professional life, at the beginning of their clinical practice in dental school.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Low Back Pain in Students Studying at a Health University

“…403 of the students (77.5%) stated that desks and chairs in the classrooms were not comfortable and most (93.5%) had low back pain (p<0.01). These results of our study support the literature demonstrating that low back pain is resulted from staying in sitting position for a long time (7)(8)(9)(10). On the other hand, in another study, it was reported that sitting position was not a risk factor for back pain anymore (5).…”

“…Students' anthropometric features, gender, smoking habit, time spent on computer, school furniture, and ergonomic problems, including sitting position, are the risk factors for the occurrence of low back pain (2,(6)(7)(8). Sitting for prolonged periods is important for the onset of low back pain (9,10). Ayanniyi et al (11) emphasized that the most important cause of low back pain among adolescents was being in a sitting position for a long time.…”

Prevalence and Risk Factor associated with Musculoskeletal Pain among Students of MGM Dental College: A Cross- Sectional Survey

“…The most common site of muscular pain was in the back, neck, shoulders and hands. 10 Sharma P and Golcha V (2011) carried out a study among Indian dentists and found out that there was high prevalence of pain in Indian dentists.…”

Prevalencia de Síntomas Asociados a Trastornos Musculoesqueléticos en Estudiantes de Odontología

“…Las zonas del cuerpo con mayor reporte de molestias en nuestra investigación resultaron también similares a todos los estudios de prevalencia citados (Rising et al;Tezel et al, 2005;Thorton et al, 2008;Melis et al, 2008;de Carvalho et al;Hayes et al, 2009b;Diaz-Caballero et al). Rising et al, reportó significativamente mayor dolor en espalda media en los hombres (p=0,015) y mayor dolor en cuello y hombro en las mujeres (p=0,004), mismos reportes que presentó nuestro estudio.…”

“…Rising et al (2005), reportaron una prevalencia de un 56-71% de dolor corporal en estudiantes de odontología, distin-guiendo las zonas más afectadas. Diaz-Caballero et al (2010), reportó una prevalencia de dolor muscular de un 80% en estudiantes de odontología, donde también evaluó los factores ergonómicos que causan el dolor muscular.…”