SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.20 issue2Differences by Resistotyping Between C. albicans Strains Isolated from the Oral Cavity of HIV+ and Seronegative Patients author indexsubject indexarticles search
Home Pagealphabetic serial listing  

Services on Demand

Journal

Article

Indicators

Related links

  • Have no similar articlesSimilars in SciELO

Share


Odovtos International Journal of Dental Sciences

On-line version ISSN 2215-3411Print version ISSN 1659-1046

Abstract

SANCHEZ MARIN, Carlos Gonzalo  and  LINAN FERNANDEZ, María del Socorro Maribel. Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Symptoms of the Hand Among Dental Students. Odovtos [online]. 2018, vol.20, n.2, pp.113-119. ISSN 2215-3411.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15517/ijds.v0i0.32888.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal symptoms of the upper extremities are common among dental workers due to exposure to risk factors including repetition, forceful exertions of the hand, and awkward wrist postures. As dental students learn new skills and procedures during dental school, they experience a gradually increasing exposure to these risk factors. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of hand and wrist musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) among dental students of the University of Iowa. Methods: Thirty-five first year students and thirty-nine fourth year students (N=74) were asked to complete two questionnaires. Results: The prevalence of moderate/severe MSS of the dominant hand such as numbness, tingling and soreness among first year students was 0, 6 and 20% respectively compared to 18, 15 and 36% of the fourth year students. Conclusions: In this relatively small sample, MSS of the dominant hand were more common among fourth year dental students when compared to first year students.

Keywords : Musculoskeletal symptoms; Risk factors; Dental students.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )