Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are among the most commonly reported injuries in the workforce, and there is a particularly high prevalence among dental hygienists. Research has shown the incidence of MSD may begin during students’ academic and clinical training.
This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of chair-side stretching exercises on self-reported musculoskeletal (MSK) pain among currently enrolled dental hygiene students.
Methods
Thirty-one senior dental hygiene students were divided into treatment and control groups during the fall semester. The treatment group completed a series of chair-side stretching exercises before beginning each clinic session, for approximately 10.5 weeks. Participants completed a modified version of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire at the beginning (week 0), midpoint (week 5), and end of the study (week 10.5). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.
Results:
There were significant differences in the total MSK pain scores reported between the treatment and control groups (p=0.03) in addition to the hand and wrist pain severity scores (p=0.04). Hierarchical multiple regression revealed a model explaining the 38.2% variance in MSK pain between the groups (p=0.021). Most participants in the treatment group felt chair-side stretching exercises neither improved nor worsened their MSK pain. However, more than half of the participants felt the exercises helped increase their awareness of ergonomic practices while delivering client care.
Conclusion:
Findings from this study suggest consistent chair-side stretching exercises may be beneficial in reducing and preventing MSK pain, particularly within the hand and wrist region.
Future research is needed to determine effective interventions to reduce MSK pain, particularly for the neck, shoulders, and lower back during dental hygiene education to promote professional health and career longevity.
