A wide array of interventions and therapies is available to help dental hygienists stay healthy and reduce pain

Hunt, Amber W.

Lintag-Nguyen, Kimberly B.

English

Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University ODU Digital Commons Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications Dental Hygiene 2021 Promote Ergonomic Health Amber W. Hunt Old Dominion University, anwalter@odu.edu Kimberly B. Lintag-Nguyen Old Dominion University, klintag@odu.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/dentalhygiene_fac_pubs  Part of the Dental Hygiene Commons, Musculoskeletal System Commons, and the Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons Original Publication Citation Hunt, A. W., & Lintag-Nguyen, K. (2021). Promote ergonomic health. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, 19(11), 8, 10-11. https://dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com/article/promote-ergonomic-health/ This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Dental Hygiene at ODU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of ODU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@odu.edu. Impacting the muscles, bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are associated with pain and affect individuals’ well-being by limiting mobility, dexterity, and functional ability.  Theprevalence of musculoskeletal pain reported by dental hygienists ranges between 64% and 93%.  Musculoskeletal pain can negatively affect work life, requiring a leave of absence, fewer work hours, or a move toa different profession.  Dental hygienists frequently report pain in the neck, shoulders, hands, wrists, upper back, and lower back.  The repetitive nature of the job in addition to the need to hold static and awkward postures and use apinch grip put dental hygienists at elevated risk for MSDs.  Appropriate positioning, ergonomic equipment, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and prevention techniques may help dental hygienistssupport career longevity. Maintain Appropriate PositioningAppropriate ergonomics is important in preventing MSDs and repetitive motion injuries. Dental hygienists should sit in a neutral body position to prevent strain. This neutral position allows the spine’s three naturalcurves to  align with the ears, shoulders, and hips in a straight line. Neutral body positions include:  Head tilted at 0° to 20°Trunk flexed at 0° to 20°Torso in line with the long axis of the bodyShoulders in a horizontal line with weight evenly distributedElbows less than 20° from the bodyAngle between the forearm and upper arm between 60° and 100°Wrist aligned with the forearm with the pinky finger slightly lower than the thumb Ergonomic Equipment Reducing muscle strain is important to minimizing MSD risk. The use of equipment to support positive ergonomics can help reduce this risk. Dental hygienists should tilt their clinician seats down about 5° to help maintain the natural lower curve of the spine, which reduces disc pressure.  If the clinician chair cannot be tilted down, an ergonomic wedgecushion can be used to maintain appropriate posture. Another option is to use a saddle stool, which has a tilt to help meet the clinician’s natural spinal curve. Saddle stools also allow dental hygienists to sit with theappropriate feet position—shoulder width apart.  The use of loupes may help dental hygienists improve their working posture and reduce pain.  When comparing posture between clinicians who wore loupes and those who wore traditional eyewear, thosewearing loupes demonstrated superior posture.  Results of an analysis of the relationship between pain and loupes showed that wearing loupes improved arm, shoulder, and hand pain, while no significantdifference was found in neck pain between the two groups. The effects of saddle stools used with and without loupes have been evaluated, and findings indicate that the loupes/saddle stool combinationsupported the best posture.  Coaxial illumination can be added to loupes, providing more intense light than overhead lighting. Due to its increased intensity and alignment with clinicians’ field of vision, coaxialillumination may offer ergonomic benefits. The use of contra-angled handpieces may reduce muscle strain due to the decreased cord weight compared to straight handpieces. Straight handpieces tend to feel heavier from the extra weight of the attachedcord. Conversely, contra-angled handpieces have cords that are angled away, resulting in a lighter feel. Additionally, cordless handpieces reduce overall muscle workload—but not muscle intensity—and increasepolishing efficiency.  In situations where corded air-driven handpieces do not reach far enough to access the patient’s mouth, ergonomics may be impacted. In these cases, cordless handpieces may be a moreergonomic option.The impact of ultrasonic inserts/tips on MSD risk has also been studied. When swivel ultrasonics were compared to standard ultrasonics, no difference was found in the range of wrist movement or scalingefficiency.  When comparing ultrasonic scaling to manual instrumentation, higher muscular load has been found on the right forearm muscles during manual scaling due to the necessary forceful grip and repetitivemotions.  While power instrumentation offers ergonomic benefits, the high-frequency vibrations emitted by ultrasonics may cause neuropathy.  Instrument design—including diameter, weight, texturing, and padding—impacts muscle activity. Instruments and mirrors with a diameter of at least 10 mm, weight of 15 g or less, and padding have been found todecrease muscle activity.  On the other hand, instrument length is not a factor in ergonomics.  A recent study found instruments weighing 16 g to 21 g produced similar forearm muscle activity as heavierinstruments, but significantly more muscle activity was generated when using an instrument weighing 23 g or more.  Dental hygienists have also reported preferring lightweight instruments (16 g) with a largediameter (12.7 mm).  Additionally, silicone instrument handles may improve hand comfort and reduce fatigue when compared to stainless steel handles.  Instrument handles with texturing and tapering at the endresult in reduced pinch force. Therefore, dental hygienists should select instruments that are lightweight, large in diameter, include padding and texture, and are tapered to reduce muscle activity and pinchforce.Other ergonomic considerations are sharpness of instruments and proper glove fit. Sharp instruments result in more effective calculus removal without the need to exert as much force and implement repetitivemovements. Sharpen-free instruments are also an option, offering durability and efficiency. Sharp instruments are important because they require less pressure to remove calculus deposits. Utilizing a soft “c”-shapemodified pen grasp also reduces musculoskeletal stress during instrumentation.  Lastly, wearing gloves that fit properly and loosely across the wrist and palm of the hand will prevent muscle strain. Wearing glovesthat are too tight may cause MSD symptoms such as tingling, numbness, or pain in the wrist, hand, or fingers.PANUWAT DANGSUNGNOEN/ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUSPromote Ergonomic HealthA wide array of interventions and therapies is available to help dental hygienists stay healthy and reduce pain.By …Amber W. Hunt, BSDH, M1232–5266,768–118,910,11 12131415 16,1718 181919 206,18,1966Latest Features ErgonomicsSUBSCRIBENOVEMBER 2021View Flipbook- Advertisement -- Advertisement -Home About  News  Issue Archives  Categories  Quizzes  CE  Community  Subscribe 뀀 뀁 뀘 뀋Contact Us Advertising Opportunities Dimensions. --TABLE 1. Stretches for Dental Hygienists2 1 !PffrtWifiiii::ii'i iii; Stretch Description -Neck Range of motion Rotate the head to the side Hold for 5 seconds, exercise Neck Uppertrapezius stretch Wrist Wrist flexion Wrist Wrist extension Move the ear toward the closest shoulder, while holding the opposite shoulder down with your hand repeating five times in each direction Hold for 30 seconds to 60 seconds on each side Hold one arm in front of you with wristflexion Hold for 30 seconds (bend palm down toward the wrist)and apply to 60 seconds on pressure toward you with opposite hand each wrist Hold your arm in front of you with wrist extension (palm is facing away from you and wrist is lacing up) and apply pressure toward you with opposite hand Hold for 30 seconds to 60 seconds on each wrist Chest Shoulder retraction Pull shoulders up toward ears then back down Hold for 5 seconds, repeating five times ••••  Print  Email  Facebook  Twitter  LinkedinPrevention and Treatment Preventing MSDs or improving symptoms associated with MSDs can be accomplished through a variety of modalities. A physician can be consulted or CAM therapies such as physical exercise, chiropractictherapy, yoga, acupuncture, and massage, can be implemented. Stretching or attending a training course on ergonomics may also be helpful. Repetitive motions can shorten muscles, making them painful. Stretching can lengthen the muscle, increase range of motion, and boost blood flow, reducing pain.  Stretches can be performed before work, duringbreaks, or after work. They should be performed for 30 seconds to 60 seconds unless specified otherwise. Table 1 provides descriptions on neck, wrist, chest, and back stretches dental hygienists can perform tosupport their musculoskeletal health.Learning more about ergonomics also offers benefits. For example, dental hygienists may take a course on ergonomic principles and ergonomic risk factors or a module that provides information on stretching oryoga. Dentists and dental students who participated in a training course in ergonomics either experienced lower rates of MSDs or saw an improvement in MSD symptoms compared to those who did not attendsuch a course.  Exercise also helps to improve MSD symptoms. Seeking the advice of a primary care provider is prudent to learn which type of exercise may be the most helpful.  Exercises that focus on strengthening the corecan help develop deep trunk muscles, thus alleviating chronic low back pain.  Chiropractic care is another option in which chiropractors use spinal manipulation or adjustments to restore mobility to joints, particularly in the spine. To do this, they use their hands or a device to apply a specificamount of force to a joint. In particular, spinal manipulation can benefit sciatica, lower back pain, neck pain, and headaches.   Yoga combines controlled breathing, meditation, and body postures to promote relaxation and health. A study on dental hygiene students and yoga revealed that those who incorporated yoga in their routine for 1hour twice a week were in significantly less musculoskeletal pain than those who did not do yoga.  Acupuncture, a technique derived from traditional Chinese therapy, uses thin needles that are inserted into specific points in the body to alleviate pain.  The mechanism of action involves the release ofneuropeptides, such as opioid peptides, for managing pain.  Acupuncture may help alleviate neck pain, knee pain, and headaches. While the benefits of acupuncture can be felt immediately, treatment usuallyconsists of approximately 10 sessions.  Massage therapy positively affects pain.  It activates enkephalins and endorphins, which bind to opiate receptors, causing an analgesic effect. Swedish massage uses light strokes on the superficial layers ofmuscles to promote relaxation by releasing muscle tension. Another technique is deep tissue massage, which uses stronger pressure to target deeper layers of muscles and tissues.ConclusionDental hygienists must be conscious of strategies to reduce the risk of MSDs in order to support a long and successful career. Appropriate positioning, ergonomic equipment, and traditional and CAM therapies canbe considered to maintain musculoskeletal health. References1. World Health Organization. Musculoskeletal Conditions. Available at: who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/musculoskeletal-conditions. Accessed October 14, 2021.2. Hayes M, Cockrell D, Smith D. A systematic review of musculoskeletal disorders among dental professionals. Int J Dent Hyg. 2009;7:159–165.3. Chismark A, Asher G, Stein M, Tavoc T, Curran A. Use of complementary and alternative medicine for work-related pain correlates with career satisfaction among dental hygienists. J Dent Hyg.2011;85:273–284.4. Barry RM, Spolarich AE, Weber M, Krause D, Woodall WD, Bailey JH. Impact of operator positioning on musculoskeletal disorders and work habits among Mississippi dental hygienists. J Dent Hyg.2017;91:6–14. 5. Humann P, Rowe DJ. Relationship of musculoskeletal disorder pain to patterns of clinical care in California dental hygienists. J Dent Hyg. 2015;89:305–312. 6. Gehrig J, Sroda R, Saccuzzo D. Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation & Advanced Root Instrumentation. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2017.7. Plessas A, Bernardes Delgado M. The role of ergonomic saddle seats and magnification loupes in the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. A systematic review. Int J Dent Hyg. 2018;16:430–440.8. Branson BG, Bray KK, Gradbury-Amyot C, et al. Effect of magnification lenses on student operator posture. J Dent Educ. 2004;68:384–389. 9. Maillet JP, Millar AM, Burke JM, Maillet WA, Neish NR. Effect of magnification loupes on dental hygiene student posture. J Dent Educ. 2008;72:33–44.10. Hayes MJ, Osmotherly PG, Taylor JA, Smith DR, Ho A. The effect of loupes on neck pain and disability among dental hygienists. Work. 2016;53:755–762.11. Hayes M, Osmotherly P, Taylor J, Smith D, Ho A. The effect of wearing loupes on upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders among dental hyginists. Int J Dent Hyg. 2014;12:174–179.12. Dable RA, Wisnik PB, Yeshwante BJ, Musani SI, Patil AKNagmode SN. Postural assessment of students evaluating the need of ergonomic seat and magnification in dentistry. J Indian Prosthodont Soc.2014;14:51–58. 13. McCombs G, Russell DM. Comparison of corded and cordless handpieces on forearm muscle activity, procedure time and ease of use during simulated tooth polishing. J Dent Hyg. 2014;88:386–393. 14. Hawn CC, Tolle SL, Darby M, Walk M. A laboratory study to determine the effects of universal and rotating ultrasonics inserts on wrist movement and scaling time efficiency of dental hygienists. Int J DentHyg. 2006;4:15–23.15. Akesson I, Balogh I, Hansson GA. Physical workload in neck, shoulders and wrists/hands in dental hygienists during a workday. Appl Ergon. 2012;43:803–811. 16. Akesson I, Lundborg G, Horstmann V, Skergving S. Neuropathy in female dental personnel exposed to high frequency vibrations. Occup Environ Med. 1995;52:116–123.17. Stentz TL, Riley MW, Harn SD, Sposato RC, Stockstill JW, Harn JA. Upper extremity altered sensations in dental hygienists. Int J Ind Ergon.1994;13:107–112.18. Simmer-Beck M, Branson BG. An evidence-based review of ergonomic features of dental hygiene instruments. Work. 2010;35:477–485.19. Suedbeck JR, Tolle SL, McCombs G, Walker ML, Russell DM. Effects of instrument handle design on dental hygienists’ forearm muscle activity during scaling. J Dent Hyg. 2017;91:47–54.20. Hayes MJ. The effect of stainless steel and silicone instruments on hand comfort and strength: a pilot study. J Dent Hyg. 2017;91:40–44. 21. Tapley H. Stretching for musculoskeletal health. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. 2012;10:28–33.22. Lietz J, Ulusoy N, Nienhaus A. Prevention of muscluoskeletal diseases and pain among dental professionals through ergonomic interventions: a systemic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17:1–28.23. University of Michigan. Low Back Pain: Exercises to Reduce Pain. Available at: uofmhealth.org/health-library/tr5948. Accessed October 14, 2021.24. Chang W, Lin H, Lai P. Core strength training for patients with chronic low back pain. J Phys Ther Sci. 2015;27:619–622.25. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Spinal manipulation: what you need to know. Available at: nccih.nih.gov/health/spinal-manipulation-what-you-need-to-know. 2019. AccessedOctober 14, 2021.26. Monson A, Chismark A, Cooper B, Krenik-Matejcek T. Effects of yoga on musculoskeletal pain. J Dent Hyg. 2017;91:15–22.27. Staykova-Pirovska Y, Despotova-Toleva L. Acupuncture and some common diseases in general practice. Trakia J Sci. 2016;4:386–390.28. Zhang Y, Wang, C. Acupuncture and chronic musculoskeletal pain. Current Rheumatology Reports. 2020;22:80.29. Elibol N, Cavlak U. Massage therapy in chronic musculoskeletal pain management: a scoping review of the literature. Sports Medicine Journal / Medicina Sportivâ. 2019;15(1):3067–3073.From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. November 2021;19(11)8,10-11.21212223242526273282929  0  ShareAmber W. Hunt, BSDH, MS, RDH, is a clinical assistant professor at the Gene W. Hirschfeld School of Dental Hygiene at Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, Virginia, where she serves as junior clinic coordinator anddirector of the Bachelor of Science of Dental Hygiene Post-Licensure Online Program. She teaches dental hygiene theory didactic courses and clinical courses. Additionally, Hunt is a member of Dimensions of Dental Hygiene’s PeerReview Panel.Kimberly Lintag-Nguyen, RDH, BSDH, MS, is an adjunct assistant professor at the Gene W. Hirschfeld School of Dental Hygiene at ODU. A member of Dimensions of Dental Hygiene’s Peer Review Panel, she works primarily inprivate practice.Amber W. Hunt, BSDH, MS, RDHKimberly Lintag-Nguyen, RDH, BSDH, MS  PREV POSTMaximize the Effectiveness of Your Surface Disinfection StrategyNEXT POST Improve Your Ergonomics and Aerosol ControlYou Might Also Like More From Author Back, chest, Camel abdomen, thighs, hip fl exors Back, neck, abdomen, shou lders Cobra Start in a kneeling position, with hands on your Hold for 30 seconds waist then bend backward at the waist, keeping to 60 seconds the neck in a comfortable position Lay on your stomach with your legs together and palms on the fl oor slightly outside your shoulders, then come up onto your elbows keeping your feet and pelvis on floor Hold for 30 seconds to 60 seconds Back, neck, hamstrings, calves Seated forward fold Start in a sitting position on the floor with your Hold for 30 seconds legs straight out in front of you, then stretch to 60 seconds arms out in front of you toward the toes -----This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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Promote Ergonomic Health

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Promote Ergonomic Health

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