Evaluation of ergonomic factors and postures that cause muscle pains in dentistry students' bodies.
BACKGROUND
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders commonly experienced by dental professionals are one of the main occupational health problem affecting their health and well-being.This study was conducted to evaluate ergonomic factors and profession-related postures and also investigate relationship between demographic factors and work condition with pain in dental students.


METHODS
60 freshman and sophomore dentistry students were randomly chosen as the subjects of control group, and 60 of 5th and 6th-year students were selected as the members of exposure group. Data related to the subjects such as sex, doing exercise, severity of musculoskeletal pain were obtained through questionnaire. Students' postures were directly observed while treating patients and they were scored by REBA method. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using Man-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman and Kendall correlation tests.


RESULTS
80.8% of the subjects were not aware of the correct ergonomic postures for dental procedures. Severity of musculoskeletal pain in the exposure group (15.9± 4.2) was significantly higher than the control group (10.5 ±3.2), (p <0.001). Risk of the most subjects (84%) was at the medium level. Students who were more involved in clinical activities experienced more muscular pains.


CONCLUSIONS
The musculoskeletal disorders are probable prolonged in working hours in static positions, incorrect work postures, implying more force and even tools and instruments. Therefore, students who are aware of ergonomic principals of their own profession would be able to maintain their health through activities and lifelong. Key words:Posture, dentistry, students, musculoskeletal pain.
Assistant Professor of mouth diseases and member of the research center of Dentistry Faculty of Zahedan, Iran.
Masoumeh
M
Shirzaei
Associate Professor of Occupational Health, Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
Ramazan
R
Mirzaei
Dental Practitioner, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
Ali
A
Khaje-Alizade
Associate Professor of Biostatistics, Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
Mahdi
M
Mohammadi