Assessment of ergonomic condition of Iranian dentists using RULA technique and its correlation with musculoskeletal disorders
Main Article Content
Keywords
Dentists; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Ergonomics
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ergonomic status of Iranian dentists using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) technique and its correlation with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 152 dentists practicing in Ahwaz city, Iran. The ergonomic status of dentists was evaluted using the RULA method, and the prevalence of MSDs was assessed through the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire. Data were analyzed by the regression model, Chi-square test, and Mann-Whitney test (alpha=0.05).
Results: The highest levels of MSDs during the past 12 months were reported in the neck (71.1%) followed by the upper back (59.2%), wrist (55.3%), lower back (53.3%) and shoulders (52%). The RULA score was 3 or 4 in 38.8%, 5 or 6 in 57.2%, and 7 or higher in 3.9% of dentists. No significant correlation was noted between the RULA score and MSDs in the wrists, thighs, buttocks, shoulders, and ankles (P>0.05). However, dentists with neck (P<0.001) and arm (p=0.017) pain had significantly higher RULA score than those without pain in these areas.
Conclusion: The ergonomic status of Iranian dentists practicing in Ahwaz city was not satisfactory, and they had relatively high prevalence of MSDs, which calls for educational courses on this topic and measures to correct their posture.
References
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18. Meisha DE, Alsharqawi NS, Samarah AA, Al-Ghamdi MY. Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and ergonomic practice among dentists in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dentistry. 2019 Jul 5;11:171-9.
19. Senosy SA, Anwar MM, Elareed HR. Profession-related musculoskeletal disorders among Egyptian physicians and dentists. Journal of Public Health. 2020 Feb;28(1):17-22.
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22. Aminian O, Alemohammad ZB, Hosseini MH. Neck and upper extremity symptoms among male dentists and pharmacists. Work. 2015 Jan 1;51(4):863-8.
23. ZakerJafari HR, YektaKooshali MH. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Iranian dentists: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Safety and health at work. 2018 Mar 1;9(1):1-9.
24. Rabiei M, Shakiba M, Dehgan-Shahreza H, Talebzadeh M. Musculoskeletal disorders in dentists. Int J Occup Hyg. 2015;4(1):36-40.
25. Ahmadi Motemayel F, Abdolsamadi H, Roshanaei G, Jalilian S. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among Hamadan general dental practitioners. Avicenna Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2012 Dec 15;19(3):61-6.
26. Askaripoor T, Kermani A, Jandaghi J, Farivar F. Survey of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Ergonomic Risk Factors among Dentists and Providing Control Measures in Semnan. Journal of Health. 2013 Oct 10;4(3):241-8.
27. Koosha S, Bidgoli MK, Raouf A, Ezatian R. Investigation of musculoskeletal disorders and its related factors in dentists by REBA method among dental clinics faculties in Tehran in 2014. Journal of Dental Medicine. 2016 Nov 10;29(2):116-28.
28. Rafie F, Jam AZ, Shahravan A, Raoof M, Eskandarizadeh A. Prevalence of Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders in Dentists: Symptoms and Risk Factors. Journal of environmental and public health. 2015;2015:517346.
29. Tamrooiy FR, Javar MA, Salimi S, Mohammadpour H, Avakh A, Faizollahi S. A survey on prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in dentists of Tehran and their posture assessment by RULA method. Int Res J Appl Basic Sci. 2015;9(5):666-71.
30. Dehghan MF, Amiri Z, Rabiei M. Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among a group of Iranian dentists,1999;21(2):185-90.
2. Hokmabadi R, Esmailzade Kavaki M, Mahdinia M. Ergonomic assessment of musculoskeletal disorders risk factors Of North Khorasan dentails professions By REBA. JNKUMS. 2013;3(4):44-9.
3. Ebrahimian H, Hokmabadi R, Shoja E. Evaluation of ergonomic postures of dental professions by rapid entire body assessment (REBA) in North Khorasan, Iran. JNKUMS 2014; 5 (5) :961-7.
4. Aliakbari R, Vahedian-Shahroodi M, Tehrani H, Esmaeili H, Hokmabadi R. Dentists’ ergonomic assessment by RULA method and its relationship with musculoskeletal disorders. Journal of Dental Medicine. 2018 Jun 10;31(1):42-8.
5. Koneru S, Tanikonda R. Role of yoga and physical activity in work-related musculoskeletal disorders among dentists. Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry. 2015;5(3):199-204.
6. Ohlendorf D, Maltry L, Hänel J, Betz W, Erbe C, Maurer-Grubinger C, Holzgreve F, Wanke EM, Brüggmann D, Nienhaus A, Groneberg DA. SOPEZ: study for the optimization of ergonomics in the dental practice-musculoskeletal disorders in dentists and dental assistants: a study protocol. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology. 2020 Dec;15(1):1-9.
7. Yip CH, Chiu TT, Poon AT. The relationship between head posture and severity and disability of patients with neck pain. Manual therapy. 2008 Apr 1;13(2):148-54.
8. McAviney J, Schulz D, Bock R, Harrison DE, Holland B. Determining the relationship between cervical lordosis and neck complaints. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics. 2005 Mar 1;28(3):187-93.
9. Golchha V, Sharma P, Wadhwa J, Yadav D, Paul R. Ergonomic risk factors and their association with musculoskeletal disorders among Indian dentist: a preliminary study using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment. Indian journal of dental research: official publication of Indian Society for Dental Research. 2014;25(6):767-71.
10. Vahedian-Shahroodi M, Gholian–Aval M, Esmaily H, Tehrani H, Shafiei MN, Mohammadi F. Educational intervention on the health action model on Employee Safety Behaviors in Tabas coal mine. Journal of Birjand University of Medical Sciences. 2016 Oct 15;23(3):257-67.
11. Rundcrantz BL, Johnsson B, Moritz U. Pain and discomfort in the musculoskeletal system among dentists. A prospective study. Swedish dental journal. 1991 Jan 1;15(5):219-28.
12. American Physical Therapy Association. The Secret of Good Posture: A Physical Therapist's Perspective. American Physical Therapy Association; 1985.
13. Valachi B, Valachi K. Mechanisms leading to musculoskeletal disorders in dentistry. The Journal of the American Dental Association. 2003 Oct 1;134(10):1344-50.
14. Mardi G, Kouhnavard B, Ahmadipanah V, Aghanasab M. An investigation of rapid office strain assessment and rapid upper limb assessment in visual display terminal users. Journal of health research in community. 2015 Dec 10;1(3):25-32.
15. Dable RA, Wasnik PB, Yeshwante BJ, Musani SI, Patil AK, Nagmode SN. Postural assessment of students evaluating the need of ergonomic seat and magnification in dentistry. The Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society. 2014 Dec;14(1):51-8.
16. Abbasi, T. Comparative study on ergonomic risk assessment tools. (REBA, RULA, LiFFT, DUET).
17. Kuorinka I, Jonsson B, Kilbom A, Vinterberg H, Biering-Sørensen F, Andersson G, Jørgensen K. Standardised Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Applied ergonomics. 1987 Sep 1;18(3):233-7.
18. Meisha DE, Alsharqawi NS, Samarah AA, Al-Ghamdi MY. Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and ergonomic practice among dentists in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dentistry. 2019 Jul 5;11:171-9.
19. Senosy SA, Anwar MM, Elareed HR. Profession-related musculoskeletal disorders among Egyptian physicians and dentists. Journal of Public Health. 2020 Feb;28(1):17-22.
20. Judith Earnesty DJ, Prithvi N , Roopa V , Shailaja VN , Ravishankar B. Critical Study and Analysis of Musculoskeletal Disorders among Practicing Dentists. 2020 Mrch;9(3).
21. Ilbeigi S, Rastegar N, Saghebjoo M, Ebrahimi Etri A, Farzaneh H. The relationship between anthropometrical domain and upper extremity abnormalities in primary school girl students. Journal of Ergonomics. 2018 Jun 30;6(1):19-29.
22. Aminian O, Alemohammad ZB, Hosseini MH. Neck and upper extremity symptoms among male dentists and pharmacists. Work. 2015 Jan 1;51(4):863-8.
23. ZakerJafari HR, YektaKooshali MH. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Iranian dentists: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Safety and health at work. 2018 Mar 1;9(1):1-9.
24. Rabiei M, Shakiba M, Dehgan-Shahreza H, Talebzadeh M. Musculoskeletal disorders in dentists. Int J Occup Hyg. 2015;4(1):36-40.
25. Ahmadi Motemayel F, Abdolsamadi H, Roshanaei G, Jalilian S. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among Hamadan general dental practitioners. Avicenna Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2012 Dec 15;19(3):61-6.
26. Askaripoor T, Kermani A, Jandaghi J, Farivar F. Survey of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Ergonomic Risk Factors among Dentists and Providing Control Measures in Semnan. Journal of Health. 2013 Oct 10;4(3):241-8.
27. Koosha S, Bidgoli MK, Raouf A, Ezatian R. Investigation of musculoskeletal disorders and its related factors in dentists by REBA method among dental clinics faculties in Tehran in 2014. Journal of Dental Medicine. 2016 Nov 10;29(2):116-28.
28. Rafie F, Jam AZ, Shahravan A, Raoof M, Eskandarizadeh A. Prevalence of Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders in Dentists: Symptoms and Risk Factors. Journal of environmental and public health. 2015;2015:517346.
29. Tamrooiy FR, Javar MA, Salimi S, Mohammadpour H, Avakh A, Faizollahi S. A survey on prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in dentists of Tehran and their posture assessment by RULA method. Int Res J Appl Basic Sci. 2015;9(5):666-71.
30. Dehghan MF, Amiri Z, Rabiei M. Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among a group of Iranian dentists,1999;21(2):185-90.
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Published
May 5, 2023
Article Details
How to Cite
Pegah Rahbar, Parivash Shirkosh, & Sahar Tehrani. (2023). Assessment of ergonomic condition of Iranian dentists using RULA technique and its correlation with musculoskeletal disorders. Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 30(9), 72–79. https://doi.org/10.47750/jptcp.2023.30.09.009
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