Pain, Quality of Life, Strength
Conditions
Keywords
Dental students, Supervised exercise, Home exercise program, Strength, Quality of life
Brief summary
The main purpose of our study is to assess whether guided strength training and stretching intervention with a written home exercise program is more effective than a home exercise program alone for pre-clinical dental students in improving and preventing pain associated with dental laboratory practice. Secondary aims will be to assess relationships between strength and quality of life measures of an individual and pain levels.
Detailed description
Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain has been identified as a major concern among dental professionals. This can lead to decreased productivity, efficiency and quality of work along with higher costs for the medical system. The body region that is affected the most is the neck, followed by the back and shoulders. Ergonomic assessments and interventions can identify the areas of concern with workplace set up, however, training the muscles to adapt to abnormal postures may be an effective way of increasing the resilience of the MSK system while decreasing MSK pain as well. Specifically, strength training and stretching has been well researched as a way to prevent and improve pain for neck pain, low back pain and shoulder pain. Physical therapists are well trained in prevention and treatment of injuries, including a wealth of knowledge regarding strength training and stretching for specific regions. The main purpose of our study is to assess whether guided strength Thus, the main purpose of our study is to assess whether guided strength training and stretching intervention with a written home exercise program is more effective than a home exercise program alone for pre-clinical dental students in improving and preventing pain associated with dental laboratory practice. The secondary aim will be to assess the relationships between strength and quality of life measures of an individual and pain levels.
Interventions
PROCEDURESupervised exercise + home exercise program
The supervised exercise + home exercise program group will receive a written home exercise program with general stretching and strengthening exercises for the neck, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, shoulder and hand/wrist. They will also be provided with two supervised exercise sessions per month delivered in a group setting in order to ensure proper performance of the home exercise programs.
PROCEDUREHome exercise program only
The home exercise program only group will receive a written home exercise program with general stretching and strengthening exercises for the neck, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, shoulder and hand/wrist, without any supervised guidance on exercise performance.
Sponsors
Joshua Subialka
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Adults ages 18+ * Current 2nd year university dental students
Exclusion criteria
* Any type of musculoskeletal surgery in the past 6 months
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) | Baseline | PROMIS® is a publicly available system of highly reliable, precise measures of patient-reported health status for physical, mental, and social well-being. This will be measured via electronic survey. |
| Pain Intensity | Baseline | Visual analog scale (0-10 rating) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pec Minor Length Test | Baseline, intervention conclusion (7 months), and 4 month follow up prior to beginning clinical rotations. | Supine measurement in centimeters from table |
| Middle Trapezius Manual Muscle Test | Baseline | Patient prone with arms abducted to 90 degrees and externally rotated, resisting horizontal adduction. Measured in lbs or Newtons using a handheld dynamometer. |
| Lower Trapezius Manual Muscle Test | Baseline | Patient prone with arms abducted 120 degrees and externally rotated, resisting downward force. Measured in lbs or Newtons using a handheld dynamometer. |
| Cervical Flexor Endurance Test | Baseline | Patient in supine will be asked to tuck the chin and lift their head maintaining the chin tuck. Measured in seconds for as long as they can maintain appropriate quality of movement. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed