A 10-week exercise intervention can improve work posture but not neck/shoulder symptoms in dental health students: A pilot cohort study.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Dental workers including dental health students experience a high incidence of neck/shoulder symptoms. However, research into interventions has been scarce and largely focused on tools and technological modifications. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the feasibility and benefits of a neck/shoulder exercise intervention on work posture and local symptoms in dental health students. METHODS: Twenty-three students participated in a 10-week resistance exercise program for 2 minutes daily, 5 days per week. Work posture (evaluated with the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment tool, RULA), muscle strength measures, self-rated symptom severity and function were collected. Feasibility of the intervention was determined with six items scored on a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS: The exercise intervention improved work posture score by 1.88 (95% CI 1.05-2.70, p < 0.01) points on the RULA; isometric maximal strength of neck flexor and extensor muscles by 17.2% (95% CI 6.9-27.6%, p < 0.01) and 23.2% (95% CI 10.2-36.3%, p < 0.01) respectively; and clinical performance (77%). Isometric strength of the shoulder muscles, and symptom severity at the neck/shoulder showed no improvement. Adherence to training was 77%. CONCLUSION: Ten weeks of exercise was feasible for dental health students, and likely beneficial with improvements in work posture and neck muscle strength.