Prevalence of neck pain and associated risk factors in the d entists working in Lahore , Pakistan

Dentists are prone to musculoskeletal problems especially neck pain due to awkward postures. Musculoskele ta l compl ica t ions a re wel l documented among dentists like other healthcare 1 professionals. Dentists are at high risk of developing many work-related complications, 2,3 especially back and neck pain. Various studies have shown that neck pain is a common problem 4-7 among health-care workers. Approximately 70% 8,9 population experience neck pain in their lives. Musculoskeletal disorders cause the annual loss of 41 million US dollars to dentists in their 10-12 professional practice. In a study from Karachi Pakistan, the prevalence of 13 neck pain in dentists was 96%. In Denmark, however, an incidence of 65%, in Saudi Arabia 65%, 14-17 and in Australia 57.5%). Most dentists (87.2%) reported at least one symptom of musculoskeletal 17 disorders in their lifetime. A survey of 390 dentists from England and Whales reported that 70.3% of 18 them had neck pain. A dentist's working day is full of awkward and static standing and sitting positions to operate within a precise mouth area of patients. Variety of factors, such as inadequate equipment, special visual focus, workplace scenarios and strong hand movements have a serious impact on dentist's health by creating 3 musculoskeletal pain. Due to narrow visual field of the oral cavity, dentist must work with a limited scope of movement that is a high risk factor for neck 19 pain. A recent study revealed that 75% of dentists believe that their work is physically difficult due to a lack of understanding of ergonomics and the unpleasant working environment due to obsolete 20 equipment. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of neck pain among dentists working in different hospitals of Lahore.