Janczyk Radosław, Janczyk Małgorzata, Sibiński Marcin, Drobniewski Marek
Center of Osteopathy, Lodz, Poland.
Clinic of Orthopedics and Pediatric Orthopedics, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Postep Psychiatr Neurol. 2023 Jun;32(2):68-75. doi: 10.5114/ppn.2023.129053. Epub 2023 Jun 28.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the mobility of the cervical spine, pain and function according to Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores among dental assistants and hygienists. Comparison between dental professionals and a control group was also performed.
In the study, 338 dental assistants and hygienists with a mean age of 35.8 were evaluated. Of these, 195 were measured with the CROM 3 device, and 143 with a classic tape measure, for the range of motion of their cervical spine. A non-dental professional group consisting of 60 women (whose work was not related to repetitive movements of cervical spine) was also tested, 30 with the CROM 3 device, and 30 with a classic tape measure. The dental and control groups were also surveyed with the NDI questionnaire and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Dental assistants and hygienists had significantly reduced functional ROM in all directions in comparison to the control group. Among the 338 volunteers form the study group the VAS pain score was higher than in the control group. NDI scores were also worse in the study group, compared to the control group. Functional results in all subgroups of the NDI questionnaire were better in the control group. Among dental workers the cervical spine typically demonstrated significantly greater mobility in right-rotation, resulting from the position occupied at the unit at which they work.
Our findings confirm a decrease in the mobility of the cervical spine, lower functional scores involving various everyday activities and greater intensity of pain among dental assistants and hygienists in comparison to participants whose work does not involve cervical spine overuse.
本研究旨在根据颈部功能障碍指数（NDI）评分评估牙科助手和口腔保健员的颈椎活动度、疼痛及功能状况。同时还对牙科专业人员与对照组进行了比较。
本研究评估了338名平均年龄为35.8岁的牙科助手和口腔保健员。其中，195人使用CROM 3设备测量颈椎活动范围，143人使用传统卷尺测量。还测试了一个由60名女性组成的非牙科专业组（其工作与颈椎重复运动无关），30人使用CROM 3设备，30人使用传统卷尺。牙科组和对照组还接受了NDI问卷和视觉模拟量表（VAS）的调查。
与对照组相比，牙科助手和口腔保健员在各个方向上的功能性活动范围均显著降低。在研究组的338名志愿者中，VAS疼痛评分高于对照组。与对照组相比，研究组的NDI评分也更差。NDI问卷所有亚组的功能结果在对照组中更好。在牙科工作者中，由于他们在工作单位所处的位置，颈椎通常在右旋时表现出明显更大的活动度。
我们的研究结果证实，与工作不涉及颈椎过度使用的参与者相比，牙科助手和口腔保健员的颈椎活动度降低，涉及各种日常活动的功能评分较低，疼痛强度更大。
