Dental Hygiene ETDs

Publication Date

Spring 5-9-2019

Abstract

Proper ergonomics are important to minimize operator fatigue and discomfort. Poor ergonomics has been proven to be the leading factor in developing musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most important occupational health issues. Studies have been conducted in the past to investigate dental professionals and the risk for developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders and found this occupational group at higher risk. However, research on dental hygiene students is lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dental hygiene students being affected by musculoskeletal pain in the neck region in early dental hygiene education and if musculoskeletal pain was associated with the participants degrees of forward neck flexion during manual scaling procedures. A total of 50 practice trials were conducted using a Goniometer Pro (G-Pro) application on an iPhone 8 plus to measure neck flexion. Twenty-four dental hygiene students consented to participate in the observational study. Participants degree of neck flexion was measured with the G-Pro application 30 minutes into a manual scaling procedure in an already established educational setting and after participation, a short form McGill Pain Questionnaire and an additional survey was handed out via paper to the participant. The results determined that all participants neck flexion exceeded the recommended

Degree Name

Dental Hygiene

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Dental Medicine

First Committee Member (Chair)

Christina Calleros RDH, MS

Second Committee Member

Christine Nathe RDH, MS

Third Committee Member

Patricia Siegel OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Language

English

Keywords

Musculoskeletal, Neck Pain, Dental Hygiene

Document Type

Thesis

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