Hand joints mobility features of dentists in different specialties

Abstract

Introduction. In everyday practice, the activity of a dentist is exposed to many negative factors that affect his health. Forced, often asymmetric posture, monotonous movements that are accompanied by static-dynamic tension of the back muscles, shoulder girdle and upper limbs lead to diseases of the musculoskeletal system.The aim is to identify the features of joints mobility of the upper limbs in dentists of different specialties (surgeons, therapists, orthopedists).Materials and methods. 91 people were examined – dentists of working age (27–63 years) of different specialization, right-handed: 21 orthopedists, 47 therapists, 23 surgeons. Active mobility was measured in the joints of the upper limbs – shoulder, elbow and wrist.Results. In the examined group of dentists, the joints of the left hand were statistically significantly more mobile than the right (according to most indicators p<0,05). A history of upper limb injuries reduced mobility in the right wrist joint (p=0,013). Since the mobility of most of the joints on the right and left differed, a comparison was made between the groups separately on the right and left hands. In orthopedists, the shoulder joints are more mobile when performing a horizontal abduction than in therapists and surgeons (p=0,043). For the rest of the indicators, there were no differences between the groups. Comparison of joint mobility of the right and left groups in each group showed that orthopedists were the most symmetrical, slightly worse indicators in dental surgeons. Pronounced asymmetry of the mobility of the joints of the hands was observed in dentists-therapists (for most indicators p<0,05).Conclusion. Most of the joints of the left hand had greater mobility than the right at dentists. Injuries to the upper limbs in history had a negligible impact on the joints mobility. When comparing the groups, it turned out that the mobility of the joints of the upper limbs in dentists of different specialties practically does not differ. However, when comparing the joints mobility of the right and left hands in each group, it turned out that the main indicators of orthopedists and surgeons were symmetrical. Pronounced asymmetry in the joint mobility of the right and left hands was observed in dentists-therapists, which may be due to the peculiarities of their work.