Exercise intervention for a musculoskeletal disorder in an oral health student: a case report.
OBJECTIVE
to describe and evaluate the effect of an exercise self-management programme for an oral health student who was suffering from a musculoskeletal disorder which had developed in the clinical environment during the course of training.


METHODS
Single participant case report.


METHODS
The University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry and School of Physiotherapy.


METHODS
The participant was a 21-year-old female student, enrolled in the University of Otago Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH) course, who was suffering back and neck pain which had developed during her training. A series of chairside stretches, regular home-based stretches, aerobic conditioning and postural strengthening exercises was prescribed. Pain and function was assessed using standardised questionnaires at the commencement of the exercise programme, and again at 6 weeks and 13 weeks.


RESULTS
The participant demonstrated an improvement in her outcome questionnaires exceeding the MCID scores after 13 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
This case report provides a basis for highlighting the importance of measuring and monitoring MSD in a student learning oral health skills; it supports the findings of previous studies showing that an exercise intervention has some benefit for MSD in oral health students.
The University of Otago, School of Physiotherapy, Dunedin, New Zealand. stuart.horton@otago.ac.nz
S J
SJ
Horton
K J
KJ
Wade
D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012648:Self Care; D013335:Students, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult