ERGONOMIC MEASURES AND KINETOTHERAPY IN THE PREVENTION OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS IN DENTISTRY: FOCUS ON HAND PATHOLOGY

Abstract

The main aims of this paper were (i) to identify the pathology that occurs in the dentist’s hand in relation to different professional risk factors, particularly the trapezio-metacarpal osteoarthritis – a painful and highly disabling entity related to subluxation or dislocation complications, and (ii) to highlight the role of kinetotherapy for the prevention as well as therapy of the dentist’s hand. We enrolled twenty experienced dentists selected according to several inclusion criteria: a daily program of minimum 6 working hours, more than 15 years of professional experience, performing all techniques and procedures commonly encountered in a dental office. Dentists included in our research were classified in two main groups: group A performing an individual kinetotherapy program and group B without the kinetic program. Individualized kinetic programs aiming to reduce pain, restore joint mobility, tone different muscle groups and improve coordination are successful in refining work-related hand pathology in dentists.

Keywords

• ergonomics
• musculoskeletal disorders
• dentistry