A dental stool with chest support reduces lower back muscle activation |
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Authors: | Viet Tran Reid Turner Andrew MacFadden Dale Esliger Kunio Komiyama |
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Institution: | 1. University of Saskatchewan, Canada;2. Loughborough University, UK |
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Abstract: | Activation of back musculature during work tasks leads to fatigue and potential injury. This is especially prevalent in dentists who perform much of their work from a seated position. We examined the use of an ergonomic dental stool with mid-sternum chest support for reducing lower back muscle activation. Electromyography of lower back extensors was assessed from 30 dental students for 20?s during three conditions in random order: (a) sitting upright at 90° of hip flexion on a standard stool, (b) leaning forward at 80° of hip flexion on a standard stool, and (c) leaning forward at 80° of hip flexion while sitting on an ergonomic stool. Muscular activity of the back extensors was reduced when using the ergonomic stool compared to the standard stool, by 33–50% (p?0.01). This suggests a potential musculoskeletal benefit with use of a dental stool with mid-sternum chest support. |
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Keywords: | spine posture fatigue injury |
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