Authors : Su-Min Hong, Da-Yae Choi and Jung-Eun Ha
Abstract: The issue of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms is pertinent to dental hygienists. The objective was to review and correct the operating posture of dental hygiene students by means of image analysis. Subjects included 18 female dental hygiene students. The study was conducted through a survey of operating postures and an analysis of which body areas experienced discomfort or pain after scaling. After capturing images of a subject’s posture, a score was calculated using a Posture Assessment Instrument (PAI). Subjects corrected their postures following an analysis of the imagery, after PAI scores were recalculated to determine the effectiveness of corrective measures. Awareness of proper operating postures among the subjects was found to be generally high with most students aware of proper operating postures. However, the study showed that it was difficult for students to maintain the proper operating posture in the head and shoulder areas which resulted in the lowest use of proper operating postures in those body areas. In addition, students who did not maintain the proper operating postures were found to have the highest levels of discomfort/pain. Following review and correction of their operating postures using video equipment and tools, student’s overall operating postures were corrected, especially in the wrist and shoulder areas.The use of video equipment and tools in correction of operating posture was shown to be effective in reducing discomfort and pain. These results will be beneficial in creating standardized manuals on operating postures.
Su-Min Hong, Da-Yae Choi and Jung-Eun Ha, 2018. Improvement of Operating Posture among Dental Hygiene Students Through Image Analysis. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 13: 2893-2896.