Physical Fitness Course in the Dental Curriculum and Prevention of Low Back Pain

Abstract

Physical and psychosocial stressors in dental schools are associated with adverse health outcome, including low back pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical itness course included in a dental school's curriculum with regard to prevention of low back pain. Ninety irst-year and sixty-two inal-year dental students completed an anonymous questionnaire on physical itness habits and low back pain. Fifty voluntarily participated in the Åstrand bicycle ergometer test. The questionnaire revealed that 37 percent of the students have weekly physical exercise only during the physical itness course included in the curriculum and 62.5 percent of the students reported low back pain. Final-year dental students had signiicantly more low back pain than irst-year dental students (r=0.21, χ 2 =7.91, p=0.005). Female students had signiicantly more low back pain than male students (r=0.28, χ 2 =6.61, p=0.0101). The Åstrand test revealed that students who attended the physical itness course had signiicantly better physical itness (p=0.008) than those who did not. Students who exercised more regularly had signiicantly less low back pain (r =-0.19, χ 2 =11.89, p<0.01) than those who did not. We conclude that participation in a physical itness course leads to improved low back health for dental students and may prevent low back pain among inal-year dental students. Dr. Peros is Research Fellow,

Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in dental students and associated factors

“…However, when analyzed, the lower body was found to be affected to a lesser extent, and the majority of the discomfort or pain in these areas is due to the fact that students do not work with their feet supported on the floor 11 . A good sitting position, with a support base of the expanded body, avoids potential changes in the circulatory system, such as varicose veins, edema, pain, and inflammation, which may occur as a result of muscle compression of the lower extremities which impedes venous return 7 .…”

“…In this study, a high prevalence of painful symptomatology was observed in the study population; indeed, high pain rates have been previously reported by dentists of both sexes, with early onset 5 . These indexes were also high when only the students who already perform activities clinical practices were analyzed 11,12 . In a study using the RULA methodology, we found a high risk for the development of musculoskeletal disorders and, especially, in the upper limbs, of the students who were performing preclinical activity 11 .…”

“…These indexes were also high when only the students who already perform activities clinical practices were analyzed 11,12 . In a study using the RULA methodology, we found a high risk for the development of musculoskeletal disorders and, especially, in the upper limbs, of the students who were performing preclinical activity 11 .…”

“…In the second questionnaire, a Portuguese adaptation of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, assessed musculoskeletal disorders 10 . This questionnaire has been validated, and has a reliability ranging from 0.88 to 1, according to the Kappa coefficient 11 . The questionnaire is used internationally and is accepted for the assessment of musculoskeletal disorders.…”

Occupational health hazards in contemporary dentistry – a review

“…Mechanisms leading to work-related musculoskeletal disorders are multi-factorial. Factors impacting on the risk of injury from biomechanical hazards are mainly physical like exertion, prolonged static postures, movement and repetition, suboptimal lighting, poor positioning and bad body posture, exposure and vibration, genetic predisposition, but could also have psychosocial origin, mental stress, physical conditioning, age and obesity [14,16,35]. aging is considered as a strong risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders.…”