Pain in pain healers: a study of musculoskeletal disorders among dental students

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorder is disorder of the muscles, tendons, peripheral nerves or vascular system not directly resulting from acute trauma or instantaneous events. Dental work often involves time spent in static, uncomfortable positions, which can lead to musculoskeletal symptoms. The aim of this study was to find the characteristics of musculoskeletal disorders amongst the dental students from a health university. Material and methods: A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was administered to 150 dental students of Health University in Western Maharashtra after explaining the purpose and need for study. Results: Out of the 150 respondents, 22 had experienced pain in neck or back at least once a week. This figure increased to 67 when pain in last one month was considered. In our study, neck and lower back were the commonest affected sites in females while in males it was neck and upper back. Conclusion: Findings of this study can help in building awareness of the musculoskeletal symptoms and can help the future dental professional to take measures to avoid the potential causes like the incorrect postures; enable early diagnosis due to early identification of the signs and symptoms and benefit from timely treatment measures like physiotherapy modalities.