ErgoPractice News – December 2013
By Jin Chang PhD
[email protected]
During the 2013 American Dental Association meeting in New Orleans, I attended several lectures on Health and Fitness. They included the Prevention of Work-Related Pain and Injuries, Treating Neck and Back Pain, and Specific Exercise Needs. When the speakers asked their attendees who experience pain daily, almost 100% of the audience raised their hands. These ergonomic lectures were very helpful for clinicians to understand the causes of their work-related pain and injury. Even more importantly they received advice on many ways to prevent, alleviate, or eliminate pain.
Tim Caruso, PT, MBA, MS, MDT, CEAS (Founder of Chicagoland Performance Consultants and Ergonomic Expert) led the morning session. He pointed out how posture positively and negatively impacts the bottom line. Mr. Caruso reviewed the science of ergonomics and where it impacts the practice of dentistry. According to Mr. Caruso, a recent ADA survey found nearly three out of five clinicians (57.1%) reported they regularly feel pain in some area of their body. The top areas of discomfort were back and neck pain followed by shoulder pain. This is supported by several other sources in the literature. Mr. Caruso recommended that clinicians learn and maintain effective and safe working postures. These postures can be enhanced and supported by proper magnification and seating. He also recommended strengthening areas of weakness with specific postural exercises. If pain cannot be eliminated by these methods, consultation with a spine professional trained in Mechanical Diagnosis & Therapy (MDT), also known as the McKenzie approach, is advised.
Tim Caruso
Timothy J. Caruso is a practicing Physical Therapist who is nationally known as a professional speaker who has worked extensively with the dental profession since 1988 in the areas of ergonomics, injury prevention, productivity, exercise and wellness.
Bethany Valachi, PT, MS, CEAS (President and Founder of Posturedontics LLC, and Dental Ergonomic Expert) led the afternoon session. She explained how chronic neck and back pain can be prevented by maintaining ergonomic working postures. She reviewed how tools clinicians use every day (loupes, lights, stools) can significantly affect posture. She also discussed key factors that define truly ergonomic equipment. Dental professionals are prone to muscle imbalances and benefit from targeted exercise programs designed to prevent pain, injury, and early retirement. She also noted that female dental professionals experience higher prevalence and severity of occupational pain, particularly in the neck (78%) and shoulder (76%), followed by hand and wrist pain.
Bethany Valachi
Bethany is a physical therapist and Clinical Instructor of Ergonomics at OHSU School of Dentistry. She lectures internationally and is author of the book “Practice Dentistry Pain-free.”
Both Mr. Caruso and Ms. Valachi stressed that work-related pain and injuries can often be prevented through proper equipment selection and use (loupes, headlights, stools, and patient chairs). Many clinicians and students lack clear guidance on selecting ergonomic equipment and developing proper working habits. Poorly designed or adjusted loupes can contribute to poor posture and long-term injury. Proper ergonomic design helps support neutral posture and reduce strain. Improper headlights may distort color perception and increase blue light exposure risk.
SurgiTel delivers a total ergonomic solution to dental and surgical professionals through ergonomic loupes, headlights, and stools. When used correctly, these tools can help prevent chronic neck and back pain. Latest ergonomic innovations include customizable Through-The-Lens (TTL) loupes that achieve nearly any declination angle. A proper declination angle improves working comfort and posture. The recommended process begins with Front-Lens-Mounted (FLM) loupes to determine optimal declination angle, then transferring that setup to TTL loupes. Magnification upgrades can also be done at this stage. Starter FLM loupes may be used for training or as a backup pair.
For advice on the best ergonomics for your practice, contact your local SurgiTel representative by calling 1-800-959-0153 or click here to find your local rep. Start investing in your health by building a total ergonomic solution for your workplace.
