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Clinical working postures of bachelor of oral health students.

OBJECTIVE
To observe and describe the clinical working postures of final-year Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH) students.


DESIGN
Pilot observational study.


SETTING
The University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry and School of Physiotherapy.


METHODS
Eight final-year BOH students voluntarily participated in this study, where postural data were collected using a digital video camera during a standard clinical treatment session. The postural data were analysed using 3D Match biomechanical software.


RESULTS
Final-year BOH students who work in the seated position are exposed to neck flexion of greater than 35 degrees, together with trunk flexion greater than 20 degrees and bilateral elbow flexion greater than 90 degrees.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study agree with the findings of previous postural studies of dental professionals. Dental hygiene students, together with their clinical supervisors, need to be aware of the importance of good working posture early in their careers, and pay particular attention to the degree of neck flexion occurring for prolonged periods.