Neck Strength Variations in Dental Students with and without Neck Pain: A Longitudinal Study
Source abstract
Abstract
Neck pain can induce specific motor responses and alterations in muscle strength. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate and compare the progression of cervical muscle strength within and between students with and without neck pain over the course of their first semester of clinical training. We used an online Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire for group allocation, and neck strength in flexion, extension, and lateral flexion on both sides was measured using the KForce Bubble Pro hand-held dynamometer. Forty-four students were divided into neck pain (n = 21) and asymptomatic (n = 23) groups. Both groups increased neck strength by the end of the semester in flexion, extension, and left and right lateral flexion (p < 0.001). Students experiencing neck pain showed a significantly lesser degree of improvement (p = 0.036) in right lateral flexion. The agonist/antagonist ratios revealed an enhanced role of neck extensors across both groups. Dental students showed overall increased cervical strength in their first semester of clinical training. Those with neck pain exhibited a diminished rate of strength gain in right lateral flexion when compared with students without pain by the semester’s end, suggesting different neuromuscular adjustments to clinical practice in students experiencing pain, which may lead to functional impairments in later training stages.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Occupational health in dentistry · Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation · Medical Malpractice and Liability Issues
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, 1499-002 Oeiras, Portugal
Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, 2829-511 Caparica, Portugal
Department of Physiotherapy, Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, Campus Universitario, Quinta da Granja, 2829-511 Caparica, Portugal
Funding
Science and Technology, I.P.
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