İnvestigation of the relationship between low back, neck pain and work posture in dentists

This study was planned to examine the relationship between dentists' working posture and back and neck pain and to find the determinants of the working posture.102 voluntary dentists with an age range of 25-65 years were included in our study. The working posture of the dentists included in the study was evaluated with the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method, low back and neck pain with Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the disability status associated with low back and neck pain with the Oswestry Disability İndex (ODI) and Neck Disability İndex (NDI) questionnaires, respectively. Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire was used to evaluate the quality of life. The average age of the dentists who participated in our study was 35.69 ± 8.48 and 57 of these dentists were women and 46 were men. As a result of the study, the REBA score of the dentists was determined as 6.62 ± 1.75 and the working posture was in the moderate risk group according to the REBA score. It was found that there was a moderate correlation between the REBA score and low back pain severity (r = 0.518, p <0.001), weak correlation between neck pain severity (r=-0.468, p<0.001), weak correlation between ODI (r=0.361, p<0.001) and a weak correlation between NDI (r = 0.328, p=0.001). It was determined that there was a weak relationship between the REBA score and weekly examinations, sitting time and standing time in dentists (r = 0.265, r = -0.211, r = 0.224; p <0.05, respectively). A weak negative correlation was found between REBA score and SF-36 (parameters except energy parameter (p <0.05). It was observed that there was no relationship between the REBA score and age, experience, height, weight, BMI and energy score of SF-36 parameters (p> 0.05). We are of the opinion that studies investigating the factors that may affect the musculoskeletal system in dentists should be done objectively. We are of the opinion that it is necessary to carry out determinative evaluations starting from the undergraduate level in order to take preventive rehabilitation measures to reduce health expenditures, minimize the musculoskeletal problems related to the profession and increase the efficient working capacity.