Rashid Ali Mohamed Alhmoudi F1, Faisal Rageh Qasem M2, Buti Bin Ashoor M3, Mohamed Sulaiman Alblooshi F4, Raigangar V5
1Dubai Hospital, Physiotherapy, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 3Kuwait Hospital, Physiotherapy, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, 4Al Mafraq Hospital, Physiotherapy, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 5University of Sharjah / College of Health Sciences, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Background: Dental personnel at work are susceptible to experiencing musculoskeletal discomfort and pain due to repetitive precision tasks and adopting non-neutral work postures. These commonly lead to pain and discomfort in the area of the cervical and lumbar spine. It is known that prevalence and severity of various musculoskeletal disorders decreases by performing regular exercises and taking breaks. However, very few studies have explored interventions in this population. No studies were found studying these effects in the United Arab Emirates.
Purpose: Hence, the purpose of this study was to explore the effect of back and neck exercises on pain and working posture among dentists.
Methods: Following ethical approval and written informed consent, dentists were screened for inclusion into this quantitative, quasi experimental comparative study from government and private clinics. Inclusion criteria included having chronic neck or back pain (> than 6 months), working for at least one year and having a continuous workshift of atleast four hours. Following this, subjects were divided into the intervention group (N=37) and control group (N=27). The intervention group were taught back and neck exercises and were advised to do three sessions of the exercises (3 sets with 1 repetitions) per day for 6 weeks. They were intermittently supervised by the research group (2 weeks, 4 weeks). The Neck disability index - NDI(reliability r=0.89, validity = 0.69 -0.70), Oswestry low back pain disability index-OLBPDI (reliability r = 0.83 to 0.99, validity = 0.84 to 0.94) and the Visual analogue scale VAS for the neck and back (reliability r= 0.60 to 0.77, validity = 0.16 to 0.51) were used as outcome measures for pain and function pre test and post test.
Results: Statistical analysis was done by SPSS ver.21 using the t test and chi square test. More than half the subjects, worked longer than five years as dentists, treated 5 or more patients per day with no breaks in between patients and complained of lower back pain. Significant differences were found in the NDI, OLBPDI and VAS pre and post exercise in the intervention group (p 0.05). No similar differences were found in the control group. In addition, no significant correlations in relation to number of patients and rest breaks were observed
Conclusion(s): In conclusion, occupational back and neck pain remains a significant problem among dentists. Recommendations and modifications in life style through regular exercises in between patients and increasing level of physical activity is recommended for dentists and should be implemented at a community level.
Implications: Future research should use larger cohorts with longitudinal studies and explore other ways of increasing physical activity among this population. This study was limited by its small sample size and time restrictions to conduct the project.
Physiotherapists can work actively towards championing the cause of raising awareness about postural correction and strategies to prevent back and neck pain together with efforts to increase physical activity in this population.
Keywords: Dentists, Physical exercise, Pain
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was provided for this project.
Purpose: Hence, the purpose of this study was to explore the effect of back and neck exercises on pain and working posture among dentists.
Methods: Following ethical approval and written informed consent, dentists were screened for inclusion into this quantitative, quasi experimental comparative study from government and private clinics. Inclusion criteria included having chronic neck or back pain (> than 6 months), working for at least one year and having a continuous workshift of atleast four hours. Following this, subjects were divided into the intervention group (N=37) and control group (N=27). The intervention group were taught back and neck exercises and were advised to do three sessions of the exercises (3 sets with 1 repetitions) per day for 6 weeks. They were intermittently supervised by the research group (2 weeks, 4 weeks). The Neck disability index - NDI(reliability r=0.89, validity = 0.69 -0.70), Oswestry low back pain disability index-OLBPDI (reliability r = 0.83 to 0.99, validity = 0.84 to 0.94) and the Visual analogue scale VAS for the neck and back (reliability r= 0.60 to 0.77, validity = 0.16 to 0.51) were used as outcome measures for pain and function pre test and post test.
Results: Statistical analysis was done by SPSS ver.21 using the t test and chi square test. More than half the subjects, worked longer than five years as dentists, treated 5 or more patients per day with no breaks in between patients and complained of lower back pain. Significant differences were found in the NDI, OLBPDI and VAS pre and post exercise in the intervention group (p 0.05). No similar differences were found in the control group. In addition, no significant correlations in relation to number of patients and rest breaks were observed
Conclusion(s): In conclusion, occupational back and neck pain remains a significant problem among dentists. Recommendations and modifications in life style through regular exercises in between patients and increasing level of physical activity is recommended for dentists and should be implemented at a community level.
Implications: Future research should use larger cohorts with longitudinal studies and explore other ways of increasing physical activity among this population. This study was limited by its small sample size and time restrictions to conduct the project.
Physiotherapists can work actively towards championing the cause of raising awareness about postural correction and strategies to prevent back and neck pain together with efforts to increase physical activity in this population.
Keywords: Dentists, Physical exercise, Pain
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was provided for this project.
Topic: Occupational health & ergonomics; Musculoskeletal
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: University of Sharjah, Department of Physiotherapy
Ethics committee: Institutional Review board
Ethics number: 0
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
