Dentists who use armrests have been shown to have less pain than those who do not.Ĥ. Utilize Armrests: Supporting the arm weight is especially important for trapezius myalgia sufferers. But beware: Some flip-up loupes can worsen neck pain.ģ. Ergonomic flip-up loupes will allow the most neutral, upright working postures. Loupes with a poor declination angle forces the operator to assume a head tilt greater than 20 degrees-a posture that has been associated with neck pain. Use Ergonomic Loupes: Excessive forward head posture is commonly observed in the operatory and strains the upper trapezius muscles. This problem is easily resolved with proper stool adjustment.Ģ. Operators with short torsos may find that when they position their knees under the patient head or backrest, they have to elevate their shoulders when working. Also, working with the shoulders on a tilted axis or the head turned to one side can lead to worsening of upper trapezius pain. Positioning higher than this often leads to shoulder elevation, especially when working between the 8 and 11 o’clock positions. Correct Patient Height: Position the height of the patient so your forearms are sloping only 10 degrees or so upward. Preventing upper trapezius trigger pointsġ. However, self-treating your trigger points is an easy and practical option. There are numerous approaches that medical professionals use to treat trigger points. It is important to relieve trigger points as soon as possible to restore nutrient flow to the muscle, prevent muscle imbalances, and prevent compression on nerves. Symptoms include pain, spasms, or tenderness in the upper trapezius muscle, most commonly in the non-dominant (mirror or retracting) arm. If left untreated, these trigger points can lead to the development of a painful condition called trapezius myalgia. Trigger point #1 in the upper trapezius muscle can also cause pain into the neck. The upper trapezius is the most active muscle in the body during the delivery of dental care, therefore this is a common pain referral pattern. I am wondering if this could be related to my ergonomics in the operatory?ĭear Doctor: Absolutely! The headache location you are describing is a referral pattern from trigger point #1 in the upper trapezius (Fig. D ear 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.
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