Prevalence of upper extremity symptoms and disorders among dental and dental hygiene students.
BACKGROUND
Upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders are common among dental professionals. The natural history of these disorders is not well-understood. These disorders are more common in older workers, but the prevalence among younger workers has not been well-studied.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine if dental/dental hygiene students had a similar prevalence of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders compared to age-matched clerical workers. We hypothesize students will have a lower prevalence of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders compared to clerical workers.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional design.


METHODS
Dental and dental hygiene students from three schools were compared to clerical workers from three locations (an insurance company and two data processing plants).


METHODS
There were 343 dental and dental hygiene students and 164 age-matched clerical workers.


METHODS
Regional discomfort was the primary outcome. The secondary health outcomes were diagnoses of carpal tunnel syndrome and upper extremity tendinitis.


RESULTS
Clerical workers had a higher prevalence of hand symptoms (62 percent vs. 20 percent), elbow symptoms (34 percent vs. 6 percent) and shoulder/neck symptoms (48 percent vs. 16 percent) and a higher prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome (2.5 percent vs. .6 percent) and upper extremity tendinitis (12 percent vs. 5 percent). The clerical workers were more obese, smoked more, exercised less frequently, and had lower educational levels and less control of their work environment.


CONCLUSIONS
Dental and dental hygiene students have a very low prevalence of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. A longitudinal study is necessary to evaluate ergonomic and personal risk factors.
Werner
Robert A
RA
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
Franzblau
Alfred
A
Gell
Nancy
N
Hamann
Curt
C
Rodgers
Pamela A
PA
Caruso
Timothy J
TJ
Perry
Frank
F
Lamb
Courtney
C
Beaver
Shirley
S
Hinkamp
David
D
Eklund
Kathy
K
Klausner
Christine P
CP
D000328:Adult; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology; D034941:Upper Extremity