Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder among dental practitioners

Abstract

Introduction: Literature reviews world over have shown a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among dental practitioners. Prevalence of MSD among dental practitioners in India, particularly in Karnataka, is not well documented. Aim: To determine the prevalence and distribution of MSD among dental practitioners and its correlation with working ability in South Canara district of Karnataka, India. Materials and Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the musculoskeletal symptoms among dental practitioners. The recorded data was analyzed using Chi-square test with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 17). P Results: Forty-nine dental practitioners participated in the study, of which 93.87% had a prevalence of at least one musculoskeletal symptom over the past 12 months. Most common areas affected by MSD in order of magnitude were back (67.34%), neck (59.18%), hand (34.69%), shoulder (32.65%), wrist (30.61%), hip/thigh (20.40%), ankle (18.36%), and knee (16.32%). Also, 39.13% practitioners attributed MSDs to cause limitations at work. Conclusions: High prevalence of MSD exists among our dental practitioners affecting the daily practice of more than one-third of them. Further studies are needed to identify the specific risk factors for MSD so as to introduce effective remedial measures.