ABSTRACT
Introduction High prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have been reported among operators in dentistry related to prolonged demanding and awkward operative tasks, in which non-neutral vertebral positions and risky joint articulations are adopted. The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility and reliability of the application of the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) among dental students utilising three digital photographs of the operator to determine chairside ergonomic risk.Materials and methods Third-year dental students (n = 28) obtained profile, back and frontal digital photographs of student operators in a clinical session. REBA scorings were assigned per student utilising the photographs by student groups and independently by a physiotherapist. Statistical comparisons were done for both scorings.Results There was substantial interrater reliability (kappa = 0.625; p <0.001) and moderate concordance level (Kendall's Tau-b of 0.568; p <0.01) between the scores derived from students and staff. Medium- and high-risk students based on the REBA scores accounted for 64% and 75% of the class as determined by students and staff, respectively.Discussion The high percentage of medium-to-high-risk REBA values matched the prevalence of MSDs reported by dental students in the literature. Compared to staff, students with moderate reliability were able to produce REBA scores adequately.Conclusion REBA utilising digital photographs may be an easily applicable and moderately reliable tool for alerting static ergonomic risk for clinical dental students. Modification of at-risk behaviour early in training may limit the establishment of bad posture habits and aid in the prevention of MSDs during their clinical years and post-graduation.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: College football players sustain an average of 3 subconcussive blows to the head per game. Concussions correlate with decreases in standardized neurocognitive test scores. It is not known whether repetitive, subconcussive microtrauma associated with participation in a full season of collision sport affects neurocognitive test scores. HYPOTHESIS: No difference exists between preseason, midseason, and postseason Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC) and Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) scores when collegiate football players sustain subconcussive microtrauma from forceful, repetitive contact activity. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Fifty-eight members of a Division III collegiate football team who had no known concussion during the season voluntarily completed the SAC and ImPACT instruments preseason, midseason, and postseason. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare the scores at the 3 time intervals (P < .05). RESULTS: No statistically significant decreases were found in overall SAC or ImPACT scores or in any of the domains or composites of the tests (P < .05) when preseason, midseason, and postseason scores were evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: ImPACT and SAC neurocognitive test scores are not significantly altered by a season of repetitive contact in collegiate football athletes who have not sustained a concussion. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A diminution in SAC or ImPACT scores in concert with clinical symptoms and findings should be interpreted as evidence of a postconcussive event.
