Skeletal muscle tone and motor performance characteristics in dentists as compared to controls

The daily work tasks of dentists are associated with repeated movements and staticload during the treatment of patients. Dentists’ profession includes manual dexterity andmaintaining the occupational posture for a long time. Previously it has been noted that dentistshave increased muscle stress in neck, shoulder and lower back regions. The aim of the presentstudy was to compare the muscle tone and motor performance characteristics of neck andshoulder region in dentists and representatives of other professions who do not have similar staticload of long-time duration (as controls). Twenty women aged 34–55 years participated in thestudy: ten dentists with the age (mean and SE) of 40.2 ± 3.9 years and ten controls (bookkeepers,security guards, office workers, printing house workers, laundry and dry cleaning workers) withthe age of 40.9 ± 2.4 years; working period was on the average 14 years in both groups. The tonecharacteristics of m. trapezius and m. extensor carpi radialis were investigated by device Myoton-2 (Müomeetria Ltd, Estonia) at rest and at maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) in sittingposition at the workplace of participants. The cervical range of motion (CROM) and the handgripstrength were measured. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) tone and elasticity characteristics of m.extensor carpi radialis and lower (P < 0.05) tone and elasticity characteristics of m. trapezius atrest were noted in dentists compared to controls. At MVC, no significant differences were foundin the studied characteristics between body sides in the measured groups. Dentists had lower(P < 0.05) CROM of flexion and rotation than controls. In dentists emerged significant differencein muscle elasticity characteristics for the right body side, this is related with stretching fordentistry instruments.