Study of body postures during dental procedures.
Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the major occupational health problems that affect oral healthcare providers. Dentists often work under poor ergonomic conditions and are exposed to biomechanical factors such as repetitive movements, awkward and strenuous postures, deviated or unnatural postures held for long periods of time, and psychosocial factors.
The goal of ergonomics in dentistry is to improve the working conditions and to facilitate the dentist’s performance, by optimizing the office and the equipment design. The aim of this investigation is to perform whole-body kinematic measurements and estimate the physical workload in dentists and dental students performing dental procedures using an ergonomic saddle seat and a conventional seat, by using wireless motion sensors Xsens® MVN BIOMECH.
To reach this aim, we will study the differences between the two seats through angles measurements and angular velocity in order to understand if the use of ergonomic equipment influences the professional posture.
Researchers
Publications
1. Silva V., Reis-Campos J., Figueiral M., Fonseca P., Pinho M., Vaz M., Preliminary inertial study of body postures during dental procedures. Biodental Engineering III. 2014:287.
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Funding
LABIOMEP sponsored project