MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS;

PREVALENCE OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS AMONG DENTAL PRACTITIONERS WORKING IN PRIVATE DENTAL CLINICS IN KARACHI.

Abstract

Introduction: Dental surgeon are most susceptible to develop the musculoskeletal disorders due to different working habits, repetitive tasks and uncomfortable physiological posture and mental stresses. Dentist and other health professionals often cannot avoid prolonged static postures. In optimal seated postures, major part of human body and muscles are contracted statically and there is little movement of the vertebral joints this may result in physiological changes that can lead to neck, shoulder and back pain or musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of musculoskeletal disorders among dental surgeons practicing in different areas of Karachi city. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Private Dental Clinics in the city of Karachi. Period: March 2017 to May 2017. Material & Methods: The survey was conducted among 242 Dental Surgeons practicing in different districts of Karachi. The questionnaire was concerned with demographic details, work duration and acquired specialization, organization and methods of work in the surgery. Results: Out of 242 questionnaire 107 were male and 135 female and 70% of the responders were from age group 25-35 years. Around 38.60% were serving the profession from less than 5 years and 28.83% had an experience of 5 to 10 years. Most of the dentist work 6 days a week and 5 to 8 hours a day. 42% dentist preferred both standing and sitting position. About 55.81% have acquired their preferred mode of vision according to position. Shoulder had more incidence of involvement (36.27%), followed by lower back (34.41%) and Neck (22.32%). Majority of them (40.1%) marked intensity of pain as moderate and described it as discomfort (42.4%) and aching (39.2%). Majority were taking paracetamol as pain killer and 53.6% agreed to the fact that their pain aggravates upon repetitive movements. Conclusions: The present study showed high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among dentist, so there should be preventing aims delivered during undergraduate curriculum and structure base workshop should be programmed to explain the consequences of prolonged and bed posture dentistry.