Musculoskeletal Disorders in Dental Professions
Summary
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent a pervasive occupational health challenge for dental practitioners and students worldwide. Characterised by pain or dysfunction in muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves, these conditions most frequently affect the neck, shoulders, lower back and upper limbs. Contributing factors include sustained static postures, repetitive fine‐motor tasks, forceful exertions and awkward positioning during patient treatment. The cumulative strain incurred over a working day can lead to reduced clinical efficiency, impaired quality of life and premature workforce exit. Preventive strategies focus on ergonomic equipment design, workstation adjustment, periodic rest breaks and specific exercise regimens. Education in ergonomic principles from the undergraduate level through professional development is critical. A growing body of evidence highlights the need for multidisciplinary collaboration among ergonomists, physiotherapists and dental educators to mitigate MSD risk and ensure long-term practitioner well-being.
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Musculoskeletal Disorders in Dental Professions publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in musculoskeletal disorders in dental professions across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD): A condition impacting muscles, nerves or tendons attributed to occupational movements or postures.
Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA): A standardised observational tool for scoring postural load and ergonomic risk in upper-limb tasks.
Ergonomics: The applied science of designing equipment and workflows to fit the human body and reduce injury risk.
References
- Ergonomic Analysis of Dental Work in Different Oral Quadrants: A Motion Capture Preliminary Study among Endodontists. Bioengineering (2024).
- Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among dental students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heliyon (2023).
- Prevalence and occupational risk factors of musculoskeletal diseases and pain among dental professionals in Western countries: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE (2018).
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