Dental procedures can place extensive stress and strain on the bodies and minds of veterinary team members. These may lead to musculoskeletal disorders and chronic pain. Poor posture and improper ergonomics cause repetitive strains that begin with nerve compression and inflammation. Over time they manifest trauma with accompanying aches, pains and fatigue.
Veterinarians and veterinary technicians are not alone with the challenges of repetitive motion issues in dentistry. In human dentistry, ergonomics and postural education have long been a part of curricula to offset what is called career-associated pain.
Source: DVM 360, August 7, 2019. Link. Maintaining a neutral posture while performing dentistry tasks is one of the most important things any person can do to prevent repetitive strain injuries. 20 to 30 second micro-breaks can be used throughout procedures to allow the body to recover from deviating from a neutral position.
Also see: Veterinary ergonomic guidelines, AVMA. Link.
Also see: Dental Ergonomics – Clinical Team Health, Pelton Crane, You Tube, February 2014. Link. Timothy J. Caruso shares expert advice on proper posture and dental ergonomics and how access defines health for human dental teams.
INSIGHTS: Consider collaborating with a local dental team to learn how they deal with repetitive motion and postural challenges in their practice.