The Effect of Tool Handle Shape on Hand Muscle Load and Pinch Force in a Simulated Dental Scaling Task

Details

• Personal Author:
  Barr A ; Dong H ; Laroche C ; Loomer P ; Rempel D ; Young E
• Description:
  Work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders, including carpal tunnel syndrome, are prevalent among dentists and dental hygienists. An important risk factor for developing these disorders is forceful pinching which occurs during periodontal work such as dental scaling. Ergonomically designed dental scaling instruments may help reduce the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome among dental practitioners. In this study, eight custom-designed dental scaling instruments with different handle shapes were used by 24 dentists and dental hygienists to perform a simulated tooth scaling task. The muscle activity of two extensors and two flexors in the forearm was recorded with electromyography while thumb pinch force was measured by pressure sensors. The results demonstrated that the instrument handle with a tapered, round shape and a 10 mm diameter required the least muscle load and pinch force when performing simulated periodontal work. The results from this study can guide dentists and dental hygienists in selection of dental scaling instruments. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Dental Offices Engineering Environmental Monitoring Ergonomics Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Dentistry Biological-effects Dentistry Dentists Electromyography Exposure-assessment Exposure-levels Exposure-methods Hand-injuries Hand-tools Hand Tool Medical-monitoring Musculoskeletal-system Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Physiological-effects Physiological-measurements Physiological-response Risk-analysis Risk-factors Statistical-analysis Surface-properties

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• ISSN:
  0003-6870
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  38
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20037224
• Citation:
  Appl Ergon 2007 Sep; 38(5):525-531
• Contact Point Address:
  David Rempel, MD, MPH, Division of Occupational Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 1301 South 46th St., Building 163, Richmond, CA 94804
• Email:
  david.rempel@ucsf.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2007
• Performing Organization:
  University of California, School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19990701
• Source Full Name:
  Applied Ergonomics
• End Date:
  20040630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:720ed47d0f20cfe3897f68b13adf5b4687772b4007dad14a3bb7d16a5ec755d71499efc134d783cd9cc81fe1c492a82c47bebc562d9bee46bed0c8c481458510
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/188353/cdc_188353_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 422.61 KB ]