Quetelet Index-A Threat to the Dentists

The postures, in which a dentist sits, require over half of the body’s muscles to work to hold the body motionless while resisting gravity. The static forces resulting from these postures have been shown to be more taxing than dynamic forces. Therefore, when the supporting muscles begin to reflect fatigue, a process of pain and discomfort begins and could very well lead to musculoskeletal injury. An article by Valachi and Valachi [1] cited a flowchart of muscle activity and pain leading to a musculoskeletal disorder: Prolonged Static Posture→ Muscle Fatigue and Muscle Imbalance→ Muscle Ischemia/Necrosis, Trigger Points and Muscle Substitution→ Pain→ Protective Muscle Contraction→ Nerve Compression, Spinal Disk Degeneration→ Musculoskeletal Disorder. Muscle imbalances could result from an awkward posture. In a steady posture a slight forward bend with the neck and head tilted in an effort to get a better view, while the arms are elevated and unsupported. As this posture becomes the normal working position, the muscles responsible for supporting the working posture become stronger and shorter while the contrasting muscle group becomes weaker.