Investigation of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Evaluation of Physical Condition while Working with RULA Method in Dentists of Ilam Health Centers in 2011

Abstract

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders are multifactorial and caused by various factors. In the dental profession, the risk of musculoskeletal disorders is high due to the position of the body. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in dentists in Ilam.

Methods: The present study is a descriptive-analytical evaluating the working conditions of dentists working in Ilam health centers by RULA method. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was also collected using the standard Nordic questionnaire. Dentists' postures were recorded while working using a camera, and the most frequent poses were selected and analyzed by RULA method. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22 with chi-square test and a significance level of p <0.05.

Results: In this study, 18 dentists have participated with a mean age of 39.2 and an age range of 25-47 years, of which 16.7% (3 people) were female, and 83.3% (15 people) were male. The 12-month prevalence of disorders in different areas of the body was mostly the waist (77.8%), the neck and back (66.7%), and the knees (38.9 %). The results of the RULA method showed that 16.7% and 83.3% of the peoples were in the priority level of corrective action 2 and 3, respectively.

Conclusion: According to the achieved results, the dentists have missed many days of work and daily activities due to the pain in different body regions. Therefore, designing sports and training programs can be helpful in the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders.