ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) caused by incorrect working posture among dentists is a serious issue and one that leads to decreased productivity and quality of life. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of MSDs caused by postural errors in dental healthcare professionals on the body's center of gravity through a new and innovative technique - baropodometry. METHODS: In this study we included 3 oral healthcare specialists with over 20 years experience of practicing in orthostatism, with confirmed work-related MSDs, and performed a baropodometric analysis on them. RESULTS: According to the analysis, all 3 test subjects had alterations of the body's center of gravity, with uneven distribution of pressures on the feet being recorded by the baropodometer. CONCLUSION: In an effort to maintain a good field of view and workplace in orthostatism, the subject is forced to adopt an non-ergonomic position that leads to uneven weight distribution, shifted center of gravity that eventually cause musculoskeletal disorders.
ABSTRACT
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) caused by incorrect working positions among dentists is a serious health issue and one that leads to decreased productivity and quality of life. Muscle activity and strain is correlated with higher surface temperatures due to increased metabolic activity [2]. The main objective of this study is to evaluate, using thermal imaging, the muscular strain experienced by oral healthcare professionals during work depending on their position, and to assess whether periodic stretching exercises have an impact on preventing MSDs. The study included four subjects and used thermal imaging to evaluate the heat pattern produced by muscle strain in two different states, one while working in incorrect postures and the other after performing stretching exercises. We used a FLIRB200 thermal imaging camera to measure skin surface temperature changes of the underlining muscles in the cervical, right arm triceps, and lumbar areas. According to the imaging, all four subjects recorded a drop in temperature in evaluated muscle regions after performing stretching exercises, corresponding to a decrease in muscle strain. Thermal imaging can be effectively used to evaluate muscle strain and MSDs. Stretching exercises could be viewed as effective preventive measures to avoid MSDs caused by erroneous work postures, however, more subjects are required to draw a definite conclusion.
