Dentaltown November 2013 - (Page 70)

personal health feature How to Select Exercises that Benefit Your Health - Not Make it Worse! by Bethany Valachi, PT, MS, CEAS Dr. Timothy Haines decided to make a New Year's resolution to improve his musculoskeletal health. When he began working with a personal trainer at his gym, the last thing he expected was that certain exercises and gym machines would worsen his musculoskeletal pain. Frustrated after two months of increasing pain, he quit his training sessions and sought treatment from a physical therapist. This is just one of numerous negative exercise stories I hear from dentists. Unfortunately, most personal trainers and therapists do not realize that dentists are predisposed to unique muscle imbalances. Certain generic exercises that are not a problem for the general population can throw the dentist into a vicious pain cycle. When dentists come to understand these muscle imbalances, the proverbial light bulb appears... "Ah, that's why I always had pain after that exercise." When dentists become familiar with their muscle imbalances, they are better able to select exercises and modify existing exercise routines to improve their health - not make it worse. In addition to selecting proper exercises, it is imperative to understand how dentists should strengthen these muscles. Research shows that a method called muscular endurance training can help dental professionals reduce work-related pain.1-4 Developing balanced musculoskeletal health through proper exercise can help dentists avoid work-related pain, injury or early retirement. Before initiating exercise, dentists should resolve operatory ergonomic issues, have full range of motion, resolve their trigger points and be relatively pain-free.5 [Editor's Note: Access this article on Dentaltown.com to view videos demonstrating all of the exercises mentioned in this article.] Pain and Unbalanced Muscles In order to perform the precision tasks of dentistry, the arms must have a stable base from which to operate. For example, the delivery of dental care requires excellent endurance of the shoulder girdle stabilizing muscles (especially the middle and lower trapezius muscles) for safe shoulder movement and working posture. These shoulder stabilizing muscles tend to fatigue quickly with forward head, rounded upper back and elevated arm postures - all commonly seen among dentists.6 When these muscles fatigue, other muscles (upper trapezius, levator scapula and upper rhomboids) must compensate and become overworked, tight and painfully ischemic.6 This muscle imbalance may result in tension neck syndrome, a frequently diagnosed disorder among dentists. Symptoms include * Read this article online at Dentaltown.com to view videos of special exercises just for dentists! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 70 Lehto TU, Helnius HY, Alaranta HT. Musculoskeletal symptoms of dentists assessed by a multidisciplinary approach. Community dentistry and oral epidemiology 1991; 19:38-44. O'Sullivan PB, Mitchell t, Bulich P, Holte J. The relationship between posture and back muscle endurance in industrial workers with flexion-related low back pain. Manual Therapy 2005 June 10 McGill S. Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL. 2002 Rundcrantz B, Johnsson B, Moritz U. Occupational cervico-brachial disorders among dentists. Swedish Dental Journal 1991; 15:105-115. Valachi B. Practice Dentistry Pain-Free: Evidence-based Strategies to Prevent Pain & Extend Your Career. Posturedontics press, Portland, OR. 2008. Novak C, Mackinnon S, Repetitive use and static postures. J Hand Thera 10(2):151-9, April -June 1997. NOVEMBER 2013 » dentaltown.com http://www.Dentaltown.com http://www.Dentaltown.com http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown November 2013

Dentaltown.com Highlights
Howard Speaks: Not Getting it Done? Hire a Consultant
Professional Courtesy: Painful Advertising
Continuing Education Update
Second Opinion: The Role of Teamwork in the Third Era of Medicine
Deprogrammed Open Bite Can Help with Veneers
Bruxism Worse with Splint
Corporate Profile: Burbank Dental Laboratory
Product Profile: Eaglesoft 17
Debunking the Social Stigma of Stress
The Personal Side of Stress
In Your Face: Facing the Realities of Stress in Dentistry
When Tragedy Strikes: How to Prepare for and Recover from a Natural Disaster
The Latex Problem: It’s More Complicated Than You Think
Why Dentists Require Specific Exercise
How Much Money Can You Make When You’re Dead?
Denture Stabilizations with Small-diameter Implants
You Should Know: CrownMen
Product Profile: Synergy
Product Profile: NuSmiles ZR
Continuing Education: The New Evolution of Chariside CAD/CAM Technology
Ad Index
In This Issue: Dry Brush Inside Bottom Teeth First
Perio Reports
Dentally Incorrect
101 Ways to Reduce Stress
Achieving Goal Congruency

Dentaltown November 2013