Susan S. Parker - Ergonomics in the Dental Office

One must remember that the body is a machine consisting of optics, mechanics, chemistry, and electronics. The key factor in maintaining musculoskeletal health is maintaining the body’s neutral position as much as possible during the day. What is this neutral position? The neutral position(or comfort zone) is defined as the position of an appendage that is neither moved away from nor directed toward the body’s midline, nor laterally twisted ( Figure 1.2). There is always a neutral zone for every joint and muscle. An individual must keep their entire musculature evenly balanced. Our posture and how we habitually use our body the most are what can lead our body and spine to begin to shorten and to curve into unhealthy patterns. Keeping the spine healthy at every age is crucial to the general health and longevity of the physical body.

Figure 1.1 Ergonomic awareness.

Figure 1.2 Neutral position.

Figure 1.3 Neutral position for the registered dental hygienist.

How a dental practitioner stands, walks, and uses their feet can lock patterns into the feet, ankles, knees, and hips. The key is movement – this is the goal of the practitioner. We must keep the body in motion as much as we can during our daily dental work. The neutral position is key and encompasses a deeper journey for the practitioner, in that the sides of the body are released ( Figure 1.3), thus freeing the “stuck ribs” that ultimately shorten the body, resulting in the ribcage and head becoming “weighed down” on the lower body. The abdominal muscles must be strong, as they play such an important role in connection to the health of the back and spine. Strong gluteal muscles are important as well to help the individual attain this personal neutral position.

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