Physiotherapy for dentists: the role of physiotherapeutic treatment of occupational diseases

The quality of life from the third millennium onwards has become an objective to be achieved by man following the guidelines of bodily harmony and the interrelationship between the professional, social, physiological, emotional and spiritual spheres.

Health is a result of a vital dynamic balance. Fatigue due to long periods of work without a break can cause pain and muscle spasms.

Faced with cases of RSI / WMSD diagnoses, physiotherapy has had a prominent place in several business segments through preventive therapeutic programs being an alternative treatment and prevention.

Labor gymnastics is one of those physical therapy programs that seeks to relieve the tension caused by the routine activity of workers and that can be practiced before, during and / or after office hours, targeting people at work. Then reducing the impacts of sedentary lifestyle and promotes socializing among workers.

Workout gymnastics should be performed during mandatory breaks and aim to reduce the installation of postural vices, and in view of the positions that the individual is obliged to remain during their usual activities.

If Pilates has numerous benefits for anyone, preventing and reducing pain, imagine for a professional who spends hours in an ergonomically unfavorable posture? That's where Pilates for Dentists comes in!

Many professionals seek help after having some dysfunction installed and often need to leave work due to Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD).

These diseases associated with dentists, are caused by time in an incorrect position and / or by repetition of movements, as well as by the static position without support of upper limbs and joints outside the neutral zone. In addition to pain, psychological pressure and unsatisfactory rest time are cited as aggravating factors.

Main Problems presented by Dentists

The main complaints are in the lower back, neck and shoulders, but there are some pathologies that stand out in professionals in this area, according to Medeiros and Segatto, 2012:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome
- Lateral and Medial Epicondylitis
- Shoulder bursitis
- Shoulder tendonitis
- Tenosynovitis on the wrist and fingers
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Trigger Finger
- Herniated Disc

Pilates for Dentists

Unfortunately, there is no way to demand an adequate dental office, where the dentist does not assume risky positions for his joints.

But with Pilates for dentists we are able to strengthen and condition important muscle groups to stabilize the lumbar and cervical spine, as well as the shoulder girdle and upper limbs.

1) Bridge

- In supine position and knees bent, ask the patient to raise the body, removing vertebra by vertebra from the floor, until the pelvis is aligned with the knees and shoulders, staying in a bridge position.
- The pressure of the exercise must be felt in the calcaneus, so you will know that the maximum gluteus is being recruited.
- If you ask the patient to remove one leg from the floor, when the pelvis is aligned with the knees, you will also be recruiting the middle gluteus.
- This same exercise can be done on the Reformer and Cadillac.

2) Clam

- In lateral decubitus, with knees bent and heels together and aligned with the hamstrings, open the leg that is to the top.
- The evolution of the exercise can be done by removing your heels from the floor or also with an elastic on your knees.

3) Swimming

- In four supports, aligned spine, ask the patient to stretch the right lower limb and the left upper limb, returning to the initial position and alternating the limbs.

4) Series of Arms

- Lying on the Reformer in the supine position, in the "chair" position in 90º flexion, perform the shoulder extension and return to the initial position
- Lying on the Reformer in the supine position, in the “chair” position in 90º abduction, perform the adduction and return to the initial position.
- Lying on the Reformer in the supine position, in the “chair” position, elbow supported on the upholstery, performing elbow flexion and extension.
- Sitting on the Reformer, perform the closed stroke.

5) Foot Work on Cadillac

- In supine position, place your feet on the movable bar with spring coming from underneath.
- And ask the patient to perform knee flexion-extension.

6) Side on the Cadillac

- On the side of the Cadillac, with one hand on the bar, the springs coming from above, to make the resistance on the descent and perform the inclination, sliding the hand under with a ball.

7) Cat on the Reformer

- On 4 supports on the reformer, with your knees touching the jamb, pull the cart along with the mobilization of the column.
- And return to the starting position.

8) Thoracic Mobilization

- Lying in the supine position with the foam roller in the thoracic region, ask the patient to extend the thoracic spine.
- And return to the starting position.
- This exercise can be performed on the Barrel.

9) Knee Stretches Round on the Reformer

- Kneeling, with your hands on the reformer bar and your feet on the jamb, make the "C" with the column, pushing the cart.
- And return to the starting position.

10) Mermaid

- Sitting sideways to the Cadillac's movable bar, perform lateral flexion, pushing the bar and the contralateral hand to take over the head following the movement.
- Return to the starting position.

Conclusion

Prevention is the word of the day and this also occurs in some modifications during work. For example, try to take more breaks between appointments, try to keep your joints in a neutral position and avoid sedentary lifestyle.

Pilates for dentists is the best choice for these professionals, because with these exercises it is possible to obtain the muscle balance and conditioning that the body needs.

Even with the time that the dentist needs to assume the improper posture, a stable spine, strong and flexible muscles are better able to cope with extreme situations. Thus, with Pilates the patient will achieve this type of result, where the body will be worked out completely and without contraindications.

Source: Blog Pilates. Available at: https://blogpilates.com.br/pilates-para-dentistas-2/. Access on: 04/29/2021.