Posture in dentists: Sitting vs. standing positions during dentistry work: An EMG study

Abstract

Introduction Adequate working posture is important for overall health. Inappropriate posture may increase fatigue, decrease efficiency, and eventually lead to injuries. Objective The purpose was to examine posture positions used during dentistry work. Methods In order to quantify different posture positions, we recorded muscle activity and positions of body segments. The position (inclination) data of the back was used to assess two postures: sitting and standing during standard dental interventions. Results During standard interventions, whether sitting or standing, a tilt of less than 20 degrees was most prevalent in the forward and lateral flexion directions. Amplitude of electromyography signals corresponding to the level of muscle activity were higher in sitting compared with the electromyography in standing position for all muscle groups on the left and right side of the body. Significant difference between muscle activity in two working postures was evident in splenius capitis muscle on the left (p = 0.032), on the right side of the body (p = 0.049) and in muscle activity of mastoid muscle on the left side (p = 0.029). Conclusion These findings show that risk for increased fatigue and possible injures can be reduced by combining the sitting and standing occupational postures.

Uvod Neadekvatan radni položaj tokom rada stomatologa dovodi do povećanog zamora, smanjuje efikasnost i jedan je od vodećih faktora za razvoj povreda na radu među stomatolozima. Ciljevi rada Cilj rada je bio ispitati različite položaje stomatologa tokom kliničkog rada i dati preporuke za poboljšanje radne pozicije. Metode rada Površinskom elektromiografijom (EMG) registrovana je mišićna aktivnost, kao i stepen nagiba tela tokom uobičajnog stomatološkog rada prilikom rada na terapeutskoj stolici i u stajaćem položaju. Rezultati Nagib manji od 20 stepeni bio je izmeren tokom većeg dela kliničkog rada stomatologa u obe radne pozicije. Povećanje mišićne aktivnosti uočeno je prilikom rada u sedećem položaju kod svih ispitivanih mišića. Statistički značajna razlika uočena je kod M. splenius capitisa sa leve (p = 0,032) i sa desne strane (p = 0,049), dok je kod M. sternocleidomastoideusa postojala samo na levoj strani tela (p = 0,029). Zaključak Da bi se smanjio zamor i rizik za nastanak mišićno-skeletnih oboljenja, preporučuje se da stomatolozi tokom kliničkog rada kombinuju sedeći i stajaći radni položaj.