Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: October | Volume: 10 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 236-247
Postural Evaluation and Related Musculoskeletal Pain Among Under Graduate Dental Students Using Kinovea –Education on Ergonomic Principles
Meenakshi. S1, Nitin V Muralidhar2, Nandlal B3
1Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Prosthodontics, J.S.S.Dental College and Hospital, A constituent of JSS University, Mysore.
2Reader, Dept.of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, J.S.S. Dental College and Hospital, Mysore, Karnataka.
3Professor, Dept. of Pedodontics, J.S.S. Dental College and Hospital, Mysore, Karnataka.
Corresponding Author: Meenakshi. S
ABSTRACT
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have emerged as major health problem among dental workers. Dental practice is a high risk profession and every year a large number of dentists are at risk of job related musculoskeletal disorders often termed as work related musculoskeletal disorders often going un noticed. Ergonomics is the art and science that fits individual’s job to the work culture that it enhances human efficiency and well-being. Application of customized ergonomic principles to cater the needs of the dental work culture required immediate attention.
Aim: Assess the prevalence of WMSDs, knowledge of II year dental students on principles of ergonomics and how they can apply this knowledge in order to develop relevant skills which could be followed in their clinical years.
Settings and Design: In this cross-sectional study, 130 dentists (84 male and 46 female) participated. The posture of the subjects during their normal workload was recorded by using the RULA method, and the range of musculoskeletal pains by using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), and individual and professional data was assessed by a demographics questionnaire. All tests were performed at P<0.05 level of significance.
Subjects and Methods: A total of 98 2nd year dental students from JSS Dental College and Hospital working in preclinical laboratories were included in the study. The procedure was explained, and the questionnaire was distributed and assessment was done using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) to investigate the exposure of the individual workers to risk factors associated with work related disorders. The MSDs can be recorded using the standard Nordic questionnaire.
Statistical Analysis Used:
The data were collected from 81 subjects out of the 98 evaluated and was statistically analyzed.
Results: The study sample included 30 male and 51 female dentists. Assessment of the physical status of the subjects showed that 82.8% of subjects were at high risk of musculoskeletal disorders. The majority of musculoskeletal pains were in the neck (88%) followed by upper back and lower back (62%). Moreover, 68.9% of the subjects had experienced pain at least once over the last year.
Conclusion: The students understood the importance of the practical application of the dental ergonomics principles. Registering ergonomic skills is the need of the hour as early as mannequin training. The findings of the research support the argument for integrating ergonomics in dental curriculum. Students should be educated on work related musculoskeletal disorders.
Key words: Musculoskeletal disorders, posture, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment(RULA), Kinovea soft ware, Photographs, PCP(Preclinical Prosthodontics)