Correlation between head posture, scapular dyskinesis and upper extremity stability in dental professionals: A pilot study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29070/qpytv282Keywords:
Craniovertebral angle, Dental professionals, Head posture, Scapular dyskinesis, Upper extremity stabilityAbstract
Dental professionals are routinely required to maintain prolonged static postures, repetitive upper limb movements, and sustained cervical flexion during clinical procedures, predisposing them to work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Although forward head posture, scapular dyskinesis, and upper extremity stability have been studied individually, evidence regarding their interrelationship in dental professionals is limited. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the correlation among head posture, scapular dyskinesis, and upper extremity stability among dental professionals. Twelve dental professionals aged 25–36 years with clinical experience of at least 1 year old were eligible in the study. Head posture was examined by measuring the Craniovertebral Angle (CVA) using Kinovea software, Scapular dyskinesis using the Lateral Scapular Slide Test (LSST), and Upper extremity stability using the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST). Pearson's correlation analysis was performed, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. A marked positive relationship was noted with CVA and CKCUEST (r = 0.845, p = 0.001), suggesting that improved head posture were significantly associated with greater upper extremity stability. Weak negative, non-significant association were showed between CVA and LSST (r = −0.327, p = 0.299) and between LSST and CKCUEST (r = −0.162, p = 0.615). Among dental professionals, better head posture was significantly associated with greater upper extremity stability, whereas scapular dyskinesis showed no significant relationship with either head posture or upper extremity stability. The findings highlight the need to maintain proper cervical alignment and adopt ergonomic practices along with preventive physiotherapy interventions to minimize the risk of musculoskeletal disorders among dental professionals. Further research involving larger sample sizes is recommended to confirm and strengthen these findings.
Downloads
References
1. Kumar M, Pai KM, Vineetha R. Occupation-related musculoskeletal disorders among dental professionals. Medicine and pharmacy reports. 2020 Oct 25;93(4):405.
2. Reddy RS. The influence of forward head posture on cervical proprioception in dentists. King Khalid University Journal of Health Sciences. 2020 Jan 1;5(1):26-32.
3. Jain L, Hegde V, Shetty R, Tandale A, Palekar TJ, Mehta V, SR S, Negi S. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among dental professionals: an umbrella review. European Journal of General Dentistry. 2025 Jan;14(01):001-10.
4. Verma CV, Bhosale KS. Evaluation of neck pain and scapular stability in graduate dental students: A cross-sectional study. Indian Journal of Dental Sciences. 2021 Oct 1;13(4):260-6.
5. Hayes MJ, Cockrell D, Smith DR. A systematic review of musculoskeletal disorders among dental professionals. International journal of dental hygiene. 2009 Aug;7(3):159-65.
6. Mostamand J, Lotfi H, Safi N. Evaluating the head posture of dentists with no neck pain. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies. 2013 Oct 1;17(4):430-3.
7. Marklin RW, Cherney K. Working postures of dentists and dental hygienists. Journal of the California Dental Association. 2005 Feb 1;33(2):133-6.
8. Pîrvu C, Axante A, Preoteasa C, Pârlătescu I, Cărămidă M, Pîrvu D. Maintaining a Balanced Posture by Dentists—A Challenge of the Current Practice. Timisoara Med. 2021 Dec;2021(2):0-.
9. Barbosa GM, Matheus JP, Lemos TV, Barbosa GM, Souza Júnior JR. Comparison of the upper extremity physical performance tests between asymptomatic adults with and without scapular dyskinesis. Fisioterapia em Movimento. 2023;36:e36121.
10. Plummer HA, Sum JC, Pozzi F, Varghese R, Michener LA. Observational scapular dyskinesis: known-groups validity in patients with and without shoulder pain. journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy. 2017 Aug;47(8):530-7. 63
11. Roche SJ, Funk L, Sciascia A, Kibler WB. Scapular dyskinesis: the surgeon's perspective. Shoulder Elbow 2015; 7: 289-97.
12. Biswas R, Sachdev V, Jindal V, Ralhan S. Musculoskeletal disorders and ergonomic risk factors in dental practice. Indian Journal of Dental Sciences. 2012 Mar 1;4(1).
13. Pope-Ford R, Jiang Z. Neck and shoulder muscle activation patterns among dentists during common dental procedures. Work. 2015 Jul 15;51(3):391-9.
14. Mostamand J, Lotfi H, Safi N. Evaluating the head posture of dentists with no neck pain. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies. 2013 Oct 1;17(4):430-3.
15. Gupta BD, Aggarwal S, Gupta B, Gupta M, Gupta N. Effect of deep cervical flexor training vs. conventional isometric training on forward head posture, pain, neck disability index in dentists suffering from chronic neck pain. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR. 2013 Oct 5;7(10):2261.
16. Khayati F, Saremi M, Firoozeh M, Kavousi A. The Relationship Between Postural Stability and Forward Head Posture. International Journal of Occupational Hygiene. 2025 Mar 3;17(1):55-60.
17. Amin M. Prevalence of Scapular Dyskinesis in Working Dentists: An Epidemiological Study. Egyptian Journal of Physical Therapy. 2023 Sep 1;15(1):27-37. 64
18. Garcia PP, Pinelli C, dos Reis Derceli J, Campos JÁ. Musculoskeletal disorders in upper limbs in dental students: exposure level to risk factors. Brazilian Journal of Oral Sciences. 2012;11(2):148-53.
19. Keskin M, Kaya DO. Investigation of the relationship between measurement of scapular asymmetry and working posture in dentists. Gait & Posture. 2023 Sep 1;106:S96-7.
20. Gawde A, Dabholkar TA. Association of Scapular Stability and Distal Extremity Functioning in Dental Professionals. Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU. 2025;18(2):12.
21. Zárate-Tejero CA, Rodríguez-Rubio PR, Brandt L, Krauss J, Hernández-Secorún M, Hidalgo-García C, Lucha-López O. Measuring craniovertebral angle reference values in adults using kinovea software. Applied Sciences. 2024 Sep 25;14(19):8639. 65
22. Khan A, Ahmad A, Khan AR, Maurya N, Alameer MM, Hakamy AH, Hakami MA, Alshehre YM, Aljahni M, Balasubramanian K, Alshehri MM. Clinimetric properties of a smartphone application to measure the craniovertebral angle in different age groups and positions. Heliyon. 2023 Sep 1;9(9).
23. Shadmehr A, Sarafraz H, Blooki MH, Jalaie SH, Morais N. Reliability, agreement, and diagnostic accuracy of the Modified Lateral Scapular Slide test. Manual therapy. 2016 Aug 1;24:18-24.
24. de Oliveira VM, Pitangui AC, Nascimento VY, da Silva HA, Dos Passos MH, de Araújo RC. Test-retest reliability of the closed kinetic chain upper extremity stability test (CKCUEST) in adolescents: reliability of CKCUEST in
