Patient’s Body Size Influences Dental Hygienist Shoulder Kinematics

Tal Amasay1,∗ and Andrew Karduna2 1Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, School of Human Performance and Leisure Sciences Barry University, 11300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami Shores, FL 33161, USA 2Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97405, USA OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS This study found that dental hygienists are exposed to higher shoulder elevation angles when treating a simulated big-girth patient versus a simulated average-girth patient. These differences in motion patterns may increase dental hygienists’ susceptibility to shoulder musculoskeletal disorders. Ergonomic interventions may be needed to facilitate solutions to problems associated with treating patients who are overweight or obese. Ergonomics and human factors practitioners should educate dental hygienists to be more aware of their body posture, specifically shoulder position, while working on patients with big chest girth.