Cause Of Musculoskeletal Pain Research Articles

Mechanisms leading to musculoskeletal disorders in dentistry

The authors reviewed the implications of prolonged, seated working postures on dental operator health and the potential development of musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs. The authors reviewed studies to assess the mechanisms associated with the development of musculoskeletal pain and MSDs among dental operators. Some studies investigated work duration, operator positioning and the physiological effects of various static sitting postures. Others explored the relationships between prolonged muscle contraction and muscle imbalances, as related to the development of pain and MSDs. This review advances the idea that the causes of musculoskeletal pain and disorders common to dental operators are multifactorial. Physiological changes that accompany these disorders can be related to practices used by today's operators-primarily being seated for prolonged periods. Studies associated such postures with increased disk pressures and spinal hypomobility, which are factors that may lead to degenerative changes within the lumbar spine and low back pain or injury. There is a relationship shown between prolonged, static (motionless) muscle contractions and muscle ischemia or necrosis. Weak postural muscles of the trunk and shoulder may lead to poor operator posture. As muscles adapt by lengthening or shortening to accommodate these postures, a muscle imbalance may result, leading to structural damage and pain. A significant number of today's dental operators experience musculoskeletal pain and are at risk of developing serious MSDs. A thorough understanding of the underlying physiological mechanisms leading to these problems is necessary to develop and implement a comprehensive approach to minimize the risks of a work-related injury.

The diagnostic and therapeutic challenge of femoral head osteoid osteoma presenting as thigh pain: a case report

Schaefer MP, Smith J. The diagnostic and therapeutic challenge of femoral head osteoid osteoma presenting as thigh pain: a case report. Osteoid osteoma, an infrequent but important cause of musculoskeletal pain, is often difficult to diagnose. We present a case of a 31-year-old man who, for 2 years, had left groin pain radiating to the thigh. Symptoms began 1 month after a motorcycle crash in which he sustained only shin abrasions. Initial spine and hip radiographs were negative. Treatment with naproxen provided significant relief, but the symptoms gradually worsened over 6 months. An electromyogram and lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the left lower leg were unremarkable. Hip MRI revealed edema without fracture. Prophylactic femoral pinning for impending stress fracture provided no relief. Rheumatologic evaluation revealed normal serologies and synovial fluid. Cyclobenzaprine and sulfasalazine were started and provided mild relief. At presentation to our institution, he was in significant discomfort, but could ride a bicycle for exercise and was completing a home exercise program. He had antalgic gait and globally restricted hip motion with end-range pain. A neurologic examination showed no abnormalities. Hip and pelvis computed tomography scan revealed increased sclerosis of the femoral head, with a central lucency suggestive of osteoid osteoma. This was confirmed by biopsy. Radiofrequency ablation provided significant symptom relief.

Occupational health problems of dentists in southern Thailand

To investigate the prevalence and nature of some occupationally related health problems in dentists in southern Thailand. A cross-sectional study using a self-report questionnaire distributed to all 220 dentists working in 14 provinces in southern Thailand in 1997. One hundred and seventy-eight dentists aged between 22 to 54 years responded. The most common occupational health problems were musculoskeletal pain (78 per cent) and percutaneous injury (50 per cent). Associated factors were analysed using multivariate analysis. About 22 per cent of these dentists had a history of contact dermatitis mostly caused by allergy to latex gloves, 15 per cent had eye problems, and 3 per cent had hearing problems. Continuing education in the avoidance of percutaneous injuries would be beneficial, as exposure to potential infectious agents is of concern. Further studies are needed to identify causes of musculoskeletal pain and to identify appropriate interventions to reduce its prevalence, as would similar measures to reduce exposure to agents which may be producing contact dermatitis.

Musculoskeletal problems in VDT work: a review.

This paper discusses the possible causes of musculoskeletal pain in VDT workers and outlines strategies to minimize it. The paper reviews workstation, chair, and keyboard design, and makes recommendations to improve user comfort. Also discussed is worker selection, training, posture, conditioning, and rest breaks. Short term musculoskeletal discomfort is experienced by many VDT operators in the telecommunications industry and chronic disability may result in the long term. It is important that the ergonomist and office manager work together to improve the working conditions in this important occupational area.

The Myofascial Pain Syndromes

Over the past 10 to 15 years, there has been a significant increase in our understanding of those diseases of the musculoskeletal system that cause muscular pain and dysfunction. Chief among them are the myofascial pain syndromes, which continue to be among the most overlooked and undertreated causes of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. This review explores some of the controversial aspects of our understanding of the muscle pain syndromes and reviews the critical components of evaluating and treating any patient who presents with myofascial pain and dysfunction. There is a need for a common terminology among the various disciplines that deal with patients who present with musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction, and a clasification of muscle pain disorders is proposed. There are also needs to understand where the myofascial pain syndromes fit in the broader group of disorders involving both muscle and joint and to approach the patient simultaneously from two divergent perspectives, exploring dysfunction at the tissue level and dysfunction relative to the interaction of the patient with and in his or her environment.