Providing oral health care: a pain in the ‘back’?

This question was submitted by a dental hygienist: I am an oral health provider and similar to a large number of colleagues, I suffer from back and neck pain which is impacting on my ability to work. Is there anything I can do to prevent this type of injury?

This quick initial response is provided by the Canadian Dental Hygienists’ Association (CDHA):

You are wise to be concerned.

In a survey done by the Canadian Dental Hygienists’ Association (CDHA) in 2013, Job Market & Employment Survey, 21% of respondents reported suffering from an occupational injury or medical issue related to their work as a dental hygienist. Issues with and injuries to the shoulder, back and neck are most prevalent. Posture, repetition and force exertion are common risk factors for neuro-musculoskeletal disorders.

In 2013, CDHA partnered with the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College to develop a resource outlining warm-up and stretching exercises that can be completed chair-side.  The sheet can be printed and kept in the operatory as a reminder that to provide quality care, we need to protect our own health and well-being.

Click here to download the PDF resource.

Do you have any particular question on this topic? Do you have any comments or suggestions? Email us at oasisdiscussions@cda-adc.ca

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