The Back School | Health/beauty
The Back School
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25.01.2022 Does it matter what you sit on in the dental surgery, in your study or at home? Yes it does! I have been posting a series on the inner ergonomics of sitting, st...ressing the importance of sitting on your sit bones, hip joints higher than the knees, maintaining the integrity of your torso, knees pointing away from each other and feet under the knees. Unfortunately most dental stools, chairs and couches are too soft, many even sloping backwards, resulting in a slumped posture. The length and the natural curves of the spine can be maintained only if you are sitting on your sit bones, which are the anatomical weight bearers for sitting, without collapsing your torso. The trouble with soft seating is that you can’t feel your sit bones, and the tendency is to sink into plush seats, ending up sitting on your sacrum. If you are not sitting on your sit bones your lumbar curve is reversed and the intervertebral discs are compressed, resulting in cumulative trauma and chronic back pain. For spinal health and overall wellness in the dental surgery, stools need to be firm and forward sloping. A firm seat encourages sitting on the sit bones, the forward slope has the hip joints higher than the knees. Such improved sitting conditions reduce muscular effort to maintain upright posture and facilitate optimal forward bending to gain access to patients’ mouths without spinal distortion. After searching for several years without finding a dental stool with a firm and forward sloping seat that I could recommend to dentists, I have co-designed a firm forward sloping wedge with a non-slip vinyl cover that will improve any stool (not suitable for saddle types), chair or a couch. Read the story behind the Optimum Seating Wedge and to order visit http://optimumdentalposture.com/optimum-seating-wedge
23.01.2022 Come join us for an intro to The Alexander Technique.
23.01.2022 Practical ergonomic training for Melbourne dentists You can participate in a 2 hour practical, ergonomic training workshop in a dental setting Introduction to ...Ergonomics & Wellness in the Dental Surgery at A-dec Showroom in Hawthorn on Tuesday 10 October 6 - 8 pm. For more information and registration http://optimumdentalposture.com/training-programs/ You will be shown how to gain access to your patients’ mouths without hurting yourself, by learning to co-operate with your biomechanical design. You will also train with Luke Evans from Training Solutions, learning exercises you can do at work and home to overcome and prevent occupational chronic pain, stiffness and muscle imbalances. Photo taken at Ergonomics, posture and hearing loss the perils of being a dentist Melbourne Seminar hosted by ENT for Dental Practitioners
23.01.2022 Look after your spines people.
23.01.2022 Are you concerned about your career longevity in dentistry? Many young dentists are already experiencing chronic pain. They are worried about their future, wond...ering how long they can continue practising. You can learn how to practise dentistry without compromising your body. For more information http://optimumdentalposture.com/training-programs/
22.01.2022 You are invited to train together with your dental assistant in Optimum Dental Posture Workshops. Your DA can accompany you free of charge when you register in...to the Level 2. Advanced Workshop. It is easier for you to overcome and prevent occupational chronic pain in the dental surgery when your dental assistant has also been trained to recognise harmful habitual work postures and understand biomechanical design principles applied to dentistry. Focused on dental treatment and not used to paying attention to yourself, it helps to be reminded when you slip back into the old default habits of bending and twisting over patients in ways that cause cumulative trauma to your body. It takes multiple reminders and interruptions to habitual harmful work postures before optimal posture and movement patterns become the norm. Participating in Optimum Dental Posture Workshops together or training as a team in your own practice, dental assistants learn to look after themselves better and support you in changing harmful postural habits. Register into the Level 1. Foundation Program & Level 2. Advanced Workshop Melbourne 22 & 23 June Brisbane 14 & 15 September Please book early as numbers are limited. Dentists who have completed Level 1. and registered into Level 2. can bring their dental assistants along free of charge to the Level 2. Workshop. For more information and to register http://optimumdentalposture.com/training-programs/ For training in your own practice email [email protected]
20.01.2022 Very important to become friends with your bones and inner workings. Education is everything.
15.01.2022 Why do so many dentists, hygienists, OHT’s and assistants experience chronic shoulder pain? Most clinicians and assistants lift one or both shoulders to pick up... or hold something during treatment. This is an unnecessary and harmful work posture habit. I experienced burning pain in my left shoulder for many years, my shoulder and elbow were constantly raised without me realising I was doing that. Naturally no amount of stretching, physical therapy or massage gave me long term relief until I realized what I was doing and changed this harmful habit. Once I was aware of this habit, I realized I was doing the same to a lesser degree in my everyday life, for example picking up a book, reaching for a cup, not just during dental treatment. There is no need to lift your shoulder when you work with your hands, except when you reach high up. Try this for yourself: place your right hand on your left shoulder (reverse if you are left handed) to stop it from lifting, and explore the great range of movement available for your arm and hand without lifting your shoulder. For most clinicians this lifting habit is stronger on the non-dominant side. I have found that over 90% of the dentists and oral health therapists, whom I had the opportunity to observe in their favourite work postures in the clinic, are not using a finger rest for their non dominant hand as they hold the mouth mirror. The average weight of an arm is approximately four kilos. The muscles which lift the shoulder and arm are movement muscles (fast twitch type) and tire easily. These are not postural muscles (slow twitch type) which can hold up your bones effortlessly against gravity (a constant downward force acting on us) for lengthy periods. Holding a mouth mirror without a finger rest, having the elbow and or shoulder raised requires movement muscles to hold up approximately 4 kg of weight against gravity for prolonged periods. It is no wonder the incidence of chronic shoulder pain is so high in the dental profession. Chronic shoulder pain can be reduced by noticing, stopping (pattern interruption) and changing harmful posture and movement habits. Frequent pattern interruption results in the re-wiring of neuromuscular firing patterns for more optimal shoulder and arm movement and posture habits. It is important to practise breaking harmful habits in everyday life as well as in the dental surgery. You are your most important instrument. Take care of yourself as you take care of your patients. Learn how to practice dentistry without compromising your body in Optimum Dental Posture Programs, Individual or Team Training. For more information and to register http://optimumdentalposture.com/training-programs/
10.01.2022 2018 dates have been released for Optimum Dental Posture's Level 1. Foundation Program - Overcoming And Preventing Occupational Chronic Pain In The Dental Surgery. For more information and to register visit http://optimumdentalposture.com/training-programs/
08.01.2022 The incidence of occupational chronic pain among young dentists is alarming. Students don't receive training in dental schools in how to gain access to their pa...tients' mouths without compromising their musculoskeletal health. "Wrong postural hygiene and ergonomics in dental students of the University of Valencia (Spain) (part I)." Cervera-Espert J, et al. Eur J Dent Educ. 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/articles/28295943/ This is was the conclusion of the study: "The students in our study were not familiar with the principles of ergonomics and did not sit correctly in the dentist chair. Improved training in this field is required in dental school. Lets hope dental schools around the world, starting in Australia, realise that you are your most important instrument, and teach you to take care of yourself as you treat your patients. It is never too late to learn how to co-operate with your biomechanical design, develop postural awareness, change harmful postural habits and practise dentistry without hurting yourself. For more information http://optimumdentalposture.com/training-programs/
03.01.2022 Our bodies are our most valuable instrument- making sure our hands, neck and back are being used properly is key in making sure we can treat patients for many y...ears come! We had an awesome afternoon yesterday learning loads of tips and tricks to keeping our bodies healthy and pain free while practicing dentistry! From all of the dentists, hygienists, dental assistants and receptionist a HUGE thankyou to Optimum Dental Posture for coming out and whipping us into shape See more
01.01.2022 Sometimes it feels like its too much. Having the knowledge and power of your own mind is invaluable at these times. Simply stopping and taking a breath can take you to the next moment.
