Clinical trial NCT05851586: Physical Therapy Intervention in Dental Students
Official title: Effectiveness of Physical Therapy Intervention in Pre-Clinical Dental Students
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Pain
Strength
Quality of Life
Keywords: Dental students
Supervised exercise
Home exercise program
Strength
Quality of life
Lead sponsor: Midwestern University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-05-09
Enrollment: 42
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: The main purpose of our study is to assess whether guided strength training and stretching intervention with a written home exercise program is more effective than a home exercise program alone for pre-clinical dental students in improving and preventing pain associated with dental laboratory practice. Secondary aims will be to assess relationships between strength and quality of life measures of an individual and pain levels.

Detailed description: Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain has been identified as a major concern among dental professionals. This can lead to decreased productivity, efficiency and quality of work along with higher costs for the medical system. The body region that is affected the most is the neck, followed by the back and shoulders.

Ergonomic assessments and interventions can identify the areas of concern with workplace set up, however, training the muscles to adapt to abnormal postures may be an effective way of increasing the resilience of the MSK system while decreasing MSK pain as well. Specifically, strength training and stretching has been well researched as a way to prevent and improve pain for neck pain, low back pain and shoulder pain. Physical therapists are well trained in prevention and treatment of injuries, including a wealth of knowledge regarding strength training and stretching for specific regions. The main purpose of our study is to assess whether guided strength

Thus, the main purpose of our study is to assess whether guided strength training and stretching intervention with a written home exercise program is more effective than a home exercise program alone for pre-clinical dental students in improving and preventing pain associated with dental laboratory practice. The secondary aim will be to assess the relationships between strength and quality of life measures of an individual and pain levels.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults ages 18+
* Current 2nd year university dental students

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any type of musculoskeletal surgery in the past 6 months

Primary outcomes:
measure: Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)
timeFrame: Intervention conclusion (7 months)
measure: Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)
timeFrame: 11 months
measure: Pain Intensity
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Pain Intensity
timeFrame: Intervention conclusion (7 months)
measure: Pain Intensity
timeFrame: 11 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Pec Minor Length Test
timeFrame: Baseline, intervention conclusion (7 months), and 4 month follow up prior to beginning clinical rotations.
measure: Pec Minor Length Test
timeFrame: Intervention conclusion (7 months)
measure: Pec Minor Length Test
timeFrame: 11 months
measure: Middle Trapezius Manual Muscle Test
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Middle Trapezius Manual Muscle Test
timeFrame: Intervention conclusion (7 months)
measure: Middle Trapezius Manual Muscle Test
timeFrame: 11 months
measure: Lower Trapezius Manual Muscle Test
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Lower Trapezius Manual Muscle Test
timeFrame: Intervention conclusion (7 months)
measure: Lower Trapezius Manual Muscle Test
timeFrame: 11 months
measure: Cervical Flexor Endurance Test
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Cervical Flexor Endurance Test
timeFrame: Intervention conclusion (7 months)
measure: Cervical Flexor Endurance Test
timeFrame: 11 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Glendale
country: United States
facility: Midwestern University
state: Arizona
Study officials:
affiliation: Midwestern University
name: Lacey Frankland, DPT
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: