"Neck, Back & Beyond: Preventing Pain for Peak Productivity"

Detailed Course Description

MSDs (Musculoskeletal Disorders)
• Identify signs and symptoms of MSDs  most common among dental professionals
• Learn what risk factors contribute to MSDs in dentistry
• Physiological micro-trauma resulting from prolonged static postures and repetitive, forceful movements, including: muscle imbalances, ischemia, stiff joints, disc pressures, inflammation, muscle guarding

LOW BACK PAIN
• Anatomy of the spine and discs
• Disc pressures in various postures and implications for seated operators
• Common low back injuries in dentistry (bulging discs, muscle strains, facet impingements)
• Strategies for maintaining the low back curve in sitting
• Positioning strategies:  Strategies to avoid prolonged, static muscle contractions
• Positioning for mandibular vs. maxillary instrumentation
• Correct positioning of the assistant in 4-handed dentistry
• Operatory layouts (including patient chair, trays, delivery systems) and related biomechanics that can lead to injury

OPERATOR & ASSISTANT CHAIRS
• Ergonomic features of various operator and assistant chairs
• Retrofitting an existing chair
• Special chairs for shorter operators
• Correct adjustment of chairs

OPERATORY LAYOUT
• How different operatory layouts can cause different musculoskeletal problems
• Problem-solving for various operatory layouts
• Positioning the patient chair correctly in the operatory
• Features of the patient chair
• Double-articulating and magnetic headrest adjsutment

CHAIRSIDE STRETCHING
• The benefits of stretching
• The theory of directional stretching for dental operators
• How to stretch safely
• Stretches for the low back (demonstration and practice by attendees)
• Opportunities (micro-breaks) to perform chairside stretches

TENSION NECK SYNDROME
• Anatomy of the upper back, neck and head
• Signs and symptoms of tension neck syndrome
• Common causes of neck pain and upper back pain
• The muscle imbalance that results from forward head posture
• Correcting the muscle imbalance through postural awareness, positioning, stretching and exercise
• Positioning strategies to reduce neck strain
• Chairside stretches for the neck and upper back (demonstration and practice by attendees)

MAGNIFICATION
• Various styles and manufacturers of scopes
• What to look for in scopes
• How to optimally adjust scopes including declination angle and working distance
• How head tilt angle contributes to strain of neck muscles

ROTATOR CUFF IMPINGEMENT
• Signs and symptoms of developing rotator cuff impingement
• Anatomy of the shoulder and related muscles
• Biomechanics of the shoulder when lifting the arm
• Mechanism of impingement

TRAPEZIUS MYALGIA
• Signs and symptoms of trapezius myalgia
• Anatomy of the upper trapezius muscle
• Treating trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle

PREVENTING SHOULDER DISORDERS
• Techniques for maintaining neutral shoulder postures while operating
• Positioning strategies to prevent elevated arms & shoulders
• Preventing impingement when reaching
• Special strategies for shorter operators
• Chairside stretches for the shoulder complex (demonstration and practice by attendees)

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
• Differentiating carpal tunnel from other similar disorders
• Anatomy of the carpal tunnel and compression of the median nerve
• Postural awareness to maintain neutral wrist postures
• Factors contributing to carpal tunnel syndrome, including gloves, repetition, force, instrument diameter
• Chairside stretches for carpal tunnel syndrome (demonstration and practice by attendees)

ACUTE AND CHRONIC PAIN*
• Red flag symptoms (when to call the doctor)
• Acute and chronic pain characteristics
• Strategies to prevent progression of painful symptoms
• Hot and cold therapies

TRIGGER POINTS*
• Characteristics of trigger points
• How and why trigger points develop in dental professionals
• Techniques to self-administer trigger point therapy (demonstration and participation)


RISK FACTORS OUTSIDE THE OPERATORY*
• How sleeping postures can re-inforce poor posture in the operatory
• Positioning for driving and working at computer stations
• Balanced vs. unbalanced standing postures
• Biomechanics to protect the back with lifting and household chores

MUSCLE IMBALANCES & SPORTS*
• The development of muscle imbalances
• How certain sports can exacerbate or worsen existing muscle imbalances to which  dental professionals are predisposed
• Brief review of risk factors in golf, cycling, tennis and running that can worsen symptoms in dental professionals
• How to continue the sports you love – strategies to safely continue certain recreational activities

HOME EXERCISE PROGRAM*
• How weak postural muscles contribute to pain syndromes in dentistry
• Methods of strength training: free weights, machines and resistance training
• Strengthen shoulder girdle stabilizing muscles using elastic exercise band
• Know which exercises to avoid
• Resistance strengthening, pilates and swiss ball exercises for the postural muscles of the trunk

STRESS*
• How muscles respond to stress
• Internal stress management: Techniques for muscular tension and pain
• External stress management: Raising the physical stress tolerance

*Included in full-day courses only.

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