Bushra Rehman, Ayesha Aslam, Afsheen Ali, Anum Tariq.
Ergonomic hazards to dental surgeons: a cross-sectional study.
Pak Oral Dental J Jan ;36(1):168-71.

Ergonomics is the working condition which facilitates the performance of labor and promotes worker’s welfare. Dentists all around the world have been challenged with issues related to the musculoskeletal system. Mostly musculo – skeletal problems start during the learning period of the dentist and then continue throughout his/her life, affecting spine, neck, shoulders, hands and other body parts. The aim of this study was to assess the awareness of graduate and postgraduate dental students about the role of ergonomics in dentistry and to evaluate the presence of any pain/discomfort during the last twelve months. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 120 dental graduate and postgraduate students working in Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi using the Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. All of the respondents endorsed the significance of maintaining an ideal posture during their clinical activities. However, 65% reported that they seldom assumed an ideal posture during work. About 70% of the participating dentists reported one or more episodes of musculoskeletal disorders over the last 12 months. The highest frequency was observed for lower back ache (65%) followed by neck pain (53.3%) and pain in wrist/hand (37.5%). A positive correlation was found between the musculoskeletal disorders and the average working hours per week (P<0.05).

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