title: A dental stool with chest support reduces lower back muscle activation.
abstract: Activation of back musculature during work tasks leads to fatigue and potential injury. This is especially prevalent in dentists who perform much of their work from a seated position. We examined the use of an ergonomic dental stool with mid-sternum chest support for reducing lower back muscle activation. Electromyography of lower back extensors was assessed from 30 dental students for 20 s during three conditions in random order: (a) sitting upright at 90° of hip flexion on a standard stool, (b) leaning forward at 80° of hip flexion on a standard stool, and (c) leaning forward at 80° of hip flexion while sitting on an ergonomic stool. Muscular activity of the back extensors was reduced when using the ergonomic stool compared to the standard stool, by 33-50% (p < 0.01). This suggests a potential musculoskeletal benefit with use of a dental stool with mid-sternum chest support.
authors.affiliation: a University of Saskatchewan , Canada.
authors.forename: Viet
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: a University of Saskatchewan , Canada.
authors.forename: Reid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: a University of Saskatchewan , Canada.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: MacFadden
authors.affiliation: b University of Manitoba , Canada.
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cornish
authors.affiliation: c Loughborough University , UK.
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Esliger
authors.affiliation: a University of Saskatchewan , Canada.
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Komiyama
authors.affiliation: a University of Saskatchewan , Canada.
authors.forename: Philip D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Chilibeck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064131:Back Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D003748:Dental Equipment; D003813:Dentistry; D004576:Electromyography; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D013335:Students, Dental
keywords: fatigue; injury; posture; spine