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Imagine hiring a personal trainer, participating in a CrossFit program or simply trying a new gym machine to help improve your musculoskeletal health only to end up in more pain [...]

Dear Bethany: Since the pandemic started, I've experienced much more stress. Do you have special techniques for dentists to better manage stress? Dear Doctor: This is a great (and loaded) [...]

Dear Bethany: As a full-time dentist, I have constraints on my available time to exercise. Where should I put my emphasis in my exercise routine? Should I focus more on [...]

You wouldn't put just any old forcep on any old tooth for an extraction. You need to match the appropriate instrument to the specific treatment needed. For example, if you [...]

One of the most popular New Year's resolutions is exercise, and research highly supports it: * Live longer: People with the lowest levels of fitness suffered more than twice the [...]

Dear Bethany: My gym is closed because of the pandemic, so I'd like to start the New Year with a committed exercise routine. What are the best exercises are to [...]

There is no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic brings myriad stressors, many of which can negatively impact your health. Some of these risk factors we have little control over, however [...]

Dear Bethany: I read that one of the primary causes of pain in dentists is prolonged, static postures. Is that true, and, if so, how am I supposed to move [...]

Dear Bethany: I have been experiencing neck pain combined with a headache behind my eye that won't go away with over the counter pain meds. I am wondering if this [...]

Dear Bethany: I have been going to a personal trainer whom my friends have recommended as the 'best in the area. ' Since going to him, my neck pain has [...]

What are the specific benefits of aerobic exercise for dental professionals? Studies show that a regular aerobic exercise regimen:* Makes your body more efficient at healing microtrauma that occurs day [...]

According to a 2010 study, women who sit more than six hours each day have approximately a 40-percent higher death rate and men a 20-percent higher death rate than those [...]

As I have discussed in previous articles, dental professionals are prone to unique muscle imbalances and require corrective exercise to prevent pain and injury and ensure a long career. Certain [...]

Dear Bethany: My dental hygienist is asking for a few extra minutes between each patient to engage in self-care. Isn't this just a new buzzword for taking a break? Dear [...]

Dear Bethany: I read an article in a dental journal, 'The One Exercise that All Dentists Need to Do' that states the superman exercise is the best exercise for dentists. [...]

Dear Bethany: I am a dentist with neck pain. I bought some ergonomic loupes and it feels like my neck pain has actually gotten worse! Is it possible for loupes [...]

Dear Bethany: My hygienist recently purchased a stool that's halfway between a saddle stool and a traditional stool, called a hybrid saddle stool. After finding it difficult to be completely [...]

QUESTION: Should dentists have armrests on their chairs? This is a great question and one I'm quite passionate about. Studies support the use of armrests in the prevention of neck, [...]

Pain is not a necessary by-product of dentistry--you can reduce or eliminate your pain with evidence-based interventions. Effectively resolving work-related pain in dentistry requires correctly identifying the risk factors and [...]

Neck pain is the most prevalent musculoskeletal complaint among dentists. The interventions are numerous, and it can be a daunting task to figure out exactly where to start. Try these [...]

From an ergonomic standpoint, your operator stool is the most important chair in the treatment room. Patients come and go, but you are there for the duration of the day, [...]

When one thinks of ergonomics, one often imagines the equipment we wear, hold or sit upon. The equipment that surrounds us can have just as great of an impact as [...]

Saddle-style stools are becoming increasingly popular in dentistry--and for good reason. The benefits of this positioning are numerous, and research supports the positive impact on the musculoskeletal system. For those [...]

What do many seated dentists have in common with a box? 90-degree angles; of the hips, knees and elbows. Why? At some point in the transition to seated dentistry, it [...]

Crossfit, P90X, Pilates, gym machines: exercise regimens are good for you, right? Wrong! Due to dentist's predisposition to unique muscle imbalances, certain exercises and gym machines should not only be [...]

Myofascial pain syndrome is a little recognized diagnosis, but one of the most common causes of upper back pain. After ruling out what would seem the least likely (but is [...]

Perhaps nowhere in the body is the phrase, 'If you don't use it, you lose it' more applicable than the shoulder joint. Frozen shoulder syndrome, also known as adhesive capsulitis, [...]

As a dental professional, you have probably already experienced trigger points, whether you know it or not! A trigger point is a group of muscle fibers that are in a [...]

Imagine spending $1,500 on new loupes, and you suddenly begin to develop neck pain, or, your existing neck pain worsens. This is an all-too-common problem that I frequently encounter in [...]

Ergonomic challenges in the front office can often rival those in the dental operatory! Just as in many dental operatory scenarios, you don't have to break the bank to 'ergonomize' [...]

The percentage of women pulling up chairside in the operatory is increasing. And studies show that women in dentistry experience a higher frequency and severity of pain than their male [...]

Your hands are integral to your work. Because of sustained grips and prolonged awkward postures dental professionals employ throughout the day, they experience nearly four times the prevalence of hand, [...]

I hear it far too often: 'Why didn't I learn this in dental school?' or 'Why didn't my dental rep show me how to properly adjust this?' After sustaining an [...]

Prolonged, awkward postures are the greatest culprits for the demise of dentists' musculoskeletal health (1). Sustained muscle contractions can cause painful muscle ischemia and the development of 'tender spots' or [...]

You've had a tough day in the operatory, the sun is out, your back is aching and the green is calling. What could be better than a game of golf [...]

It's no wonder that three out of four dentists and hygienists complain of neck pain. EMG studies show that the upper trapezius muscle is the most active muscle during the [...]

Did you know that nearly two thirds of dentists who retire early are forced to due to a musculoskeletal disorder? And that studies show the prevalence of work-related pain in [...]

When it comes to selecting an operator stool, the vast array of designs and features on the market today can make it a perplexing project. Numerous features must be considered [...]