How upper back injuries affect dental hygienists’ quality of life
A study has found that work-related musculoskeletal disorders, particularly in the upper and lower back, significantly impact the health-related quality of life of dental hygienists in clinical practice. But handedness, which is whether a clinician is right- or left-handed, was not a predictor of work-related musculoskeletal disorders or health-related quality of life outcomes.
Published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene, the cross-sectional study surveyed 335 dental hygienists from the United States and Canada. Most participants, or 78.2%, identified as exclusively right-handed, while 8.1% identified as exclusively left-handed. Nearly 85% reported neck pain in the previous year, but work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the lower back and wrist/hand were most frequently cited as affecting work performance, according to the study.
Researchers found that work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the upper back had the most significant impact on health-related quality of life, limiting both work and daily activities. Although left-handed dental professionals often face ergonomic challenges, handedness alone was not linked to increased injury or lower quality of life in this study.
“Handedness and the average number of weekly hours devoted to patient care were associated with poor physical health, poor mental health and activity limitation,” according to the study.
The study suggested ergonomic improvements like ambidextrous-friendly workstations and better-designed tools could help reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders and improve career longevity.
Read more: Journal of Dental Hygiene
The article presented here is intended to inform you about the broader media perspective on dentistry, regardless of its alignment with the ADA's stance. It is important to note that publication of an article does not imply the ADA's endorsement, agreement, or promotion of its content.