title: Prevalence of upper extremity symptoms and disorders among dental and dental hygiene students.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franzblau
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gell
authors.forename: Curt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hamann
authors.forename: Pamela A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beaver
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hinkamp
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eklund
authors.forename: Christine P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Klausner
mesh_terms: 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