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Text Neck in Dental Students: Prevalence, Ergonomic Correlates and Response to a Brief Exercise Programme
Divya Puvvada1, Yaswanth Nath Yalavarthi1, Ramesh Manumanthu2
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Summary
A 4-week digital reminder exercise program improved neck disability in dental and engineering students. While neck disability scores decreased, improvements in cervical posture were limited, especially in dental students.
Area of Science:
- Investigates the impact of digital health interventions on musculoskeletal health in higher education.
- Focuses on occupational health and ergonomics within demanding academic programs.
Background:
- Musculoskeletal disorders are a concern for dental students, potentially impacting performance and health.
- Understanding and mitigating neck-related issues in students is crucial for long-term well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare neck disability and cervical posture between dental and engineering undergraduates.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a brief exercise program with digital reminders for improving these outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental study involving 208 third-year dental and engineering students.
- Baseline assessments included Neck Disability Index (NDI) and craniovertebral angle (CVA).
- A 4-week intervention involved a 5-minute neck exercise program three times daily, reinforced by smartphone reminders.
Main Results:
- Baseline neck disability (NDI) was similar between dental and engineering students.
- Engineering students exhibited significantly poorer cervical posture (lower CVA) at baseline.
- The exercise program significantly improved NDI scores in both groups and CVA in engineering students.
Conclusions:
- A brief, low-cost exercise program with digital reminders can improve neck disability over 4 weeks.
- Postural improvements (CVA) were limited, and results require cautious interpretation due to group differences.
- Further controlled trials are needed before recommending integration into dental curricula.
