Ergonomic Risk Assessment of Dental Students—RULA Applied to Objective Kinematic Data

Abstract

Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) is already prevalent in dental students despite their young age and the short duration of dental practice. The current findings state that the causes of MSD are related to posture during dental work. This study aims to investigate the ergonomic risk of dental students. In order to analyze the ergonomic risk of dental students, 3D motion analyses were performed with inertial sensors during the performance of standardized dental activities. For this purpose, 15 dental students and 15 dental assistant trainees (all right-handed) were measured in a team. Data were analyzed using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), which was modified to evaluate objective data. Ergonomic risk was found for the following body parts in descending order: left wrist, right wrist, neck, trunk, left lower arm, right lower arm, right upper arm, left upper arm. All relevant body parts, taken together, exhibited a posture with the highest RULA score that could be achieved (median Final Overall = 7), with body parts in the very highest RULA score of 7 for almost 80% of the treatment time. Dental students work with poor posture over a long period of time, exposing them to high ergonomic risk. Therefore, it seems necessary that more attention should be paid to theoretical and practical ergonomics in dental school.

A RULA-Based Comparison of the Ergonomic Risk of Typical Working Procedures for Dentists and Dental Assistants of General Dentistry, Endodontology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Orthodontics

“…In principle, laboratory studies, such as the present investigation, have their limitations; nevertheless, the results of the entire SOPEZ project [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 13 , 31 , 38 , 41 ] provide important basic data for further investigations. Despite the measurements being made under laboratory conditions, it was, nonetheless, possible to demonstrate the risk potentials for the development and occurrence of WMSD, the high prevalence of which has already been documented in many surveys [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 9 , 55 ].…”

“…This study is part of the SOPEZ project: “Study for the optimization of ergonomics in dental practice” [ 6 ], having the current aim to compare the ergonomic risk of Ds and DAs in the practices of oral surgeons, endodontologists, general dentists, and orthodontists when performing typical dental procedures. Parts of this project with dental students [ 41 ] have already been published.…”

A Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) Risk-Assessment System Using a Single-View Pose Estimation Model

“…As sensors and image-processing technology have advanced substantially, many studies have been conducted to improve visual measurement methods quantitatively [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. In one of these methods, wireless Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) sensors can be attached to the worker’s body to obtain movement data [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 26 ].…”

“…As sensors and image-processing technology have advanced substantially, many studies have been conducted to improve visual measurement methods quantitatively [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. In one of these methods, wireless Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) sensors can be attached to the worker’s body to obtain movement data [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 26 ]. However, wearable devices are inconvenient because they must be worn by workers in all processes that require assessments [ 14 , 29 ], and a calibration procedure for the sensors is needed to maintain the accuracy [ 10 , 13 , 18 , 19 ].…”

Consequences of risk factors related to prolonged computer use on musculaokeletal pain in public unversity students: A case study

“…The neck, lower back, and shoulders were the most commonly affected areas among students like years of work experience; the neck and lower back revealed an elevated pattern of pain frequency [14]. Studying WMSD is essential to prevent and reduce the risk and the high prevalence and long-term symptoms of WMSD among students [22].…”