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Optimising Dentist Comfort: A Novel Ergonomic Arm Support for Musculoskeletal Wellness in Dental Practice-A Pilot
Mohammed Said Obeidat1, Lubna Mazin Khasawneh1, Nader Al Theeb1
1Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Introduction:
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are an important health problem in dentistry. According to the literature, the back, neck, shoulders and wrist are the most common pain regions. This study assesses the effectiveness of a portable, lightweight arm support device designed to mitigate strain on the neck, shoulder and arms during dental procedures.
Methods:
Eight dentists operating private clinics in Jordan voluntarily participated in this study, utilising the proposed arm support device during their work of filling procedures. The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) ergonomic approach was used to assess dentists' postures, supported by a questionnaire and a face-to-face interview to evaluate satisfaction, comfort and obtain feedback.
Results:
Results demonstrated that the proposed device significantly improved the ergonomic posture of dentists, and decreased MSD development, with the RULA score reducing from 7 to 4.25, at action level '2,' aligning with an acceptable ergonomic position. Feedback from dentists reflected overall satisfaction with the device.
Conclusions:
Despite concerns about stability, most of participating dentists showed a preference for using the proposed arm support device in their clinics, strengthening its potential to decrease musculoskeletal discomfort and prevent MSD development.
