Back pain is a common condition, with a range of factors including age and sex having various impacts. In 2020, it affected 619 million people globally, and this number is expected to increase to 843 million cases by 2050, with key drivers including aging and a growing population.[i]
Who experiences lower back pain?
Lower back pain can make it difficult to move, and can impact sufferers’ quality of life and well-being, restricting their work and social life. According to the World Health Organization, this is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and should be considered a major public health issue.i
People can experience lower back pain at any age, including in childhood, teenage years, and early adulthood. Most people will experience it at some point, with prevalence peaking at around 50-55 years old, and women experiencing it more frequently than men. It can present as a dull ache or a sharp pain, and can also radiate to the legs. Lower back pain can be acute (lasting six weeks or less), sub-acute (at six to 12 weeks), or chronic (if it lasts more than 12 weeks).
The risks of sedentary behaviour
As mentioned, back pain is a common problem for many people, with risks increasing for people who are older, women, overweight, or have stress-related conditions.[ii] To help combat this growing problem, it’s important to consider lifestyle interventions which might help relieve or prevent the worsening of back pain. Researchers are interested in finding the most successful strategies to help people who experience back pain, including considering the impact that sitting for long periods of time might have.
A recent study[iii] has explored the link between sedentary behaviour (SB) and back pain. The study (which included 64 adults who were overweight, obese, or had metabolic syndrome) took place over a six-month period, monitoring the behaviours of 33 adults in an intervention group and 31 adults in a control group. The control group was instructed to maintain their usual behaviours, whilst the intervention group aimed to reduce SB by one hour per day. Over the course of the study, intensity of back pain increased significantly more in the control group than in the intervention group.iii
On average, participants in the intervention group increased their vigorous physical activity by 20 minutes a day, and decreased their SB by 40 minutes a day. These results suggest than simple changes to daily habits could help those who experience lower back pain.ii
Essential ergonomics
Essential ergonomicsSitting has become an increasingly large aspect of daily life for many people, particularly those who are office or desk-based, or those who drive for work. As established, SB can have health implications including lower back pain, in addition to heart disease and type two diabetes.[iv] As such, it’s important that individuals whose work requires them to sit for extended periods of time intentionally add physical activity to their day, and reduce SB where possible.
Further to this, ensuring that the workplace is an ergonomic as possible is essential for reducing the impact of sitting for long periods of time as much as possible. The FDI World Dental federation acknowledges the unique challenges that dentistry presents in terms of maintaining a good posture, and recommends the ideal seated position for a dental professional (head inclined slightly forward, torso upright, arms relaxed, wrists straight, hips higher than the knees, and feet flat on the floor) as well as moving and changing position throughout the day to avoid the development of musculoskeletal problems.[v] It also highlights the importance of patient positioning which should be determined according to the dentist’s natural posture, which allows the clinician to achieve optimal performance without creating a physical burden.v
There are a wide range of treatment centres available from Clark Dental to meet your needs and support your health, including the Axano treatment centre. It makes ergonomics a priority, with vertical mouth point positioning which stores your working height and automatically moves the patient’s mouth to the position that’s right for you – even enabling you to work on your feet. Further to this, Clark Dental offers a wide range of dental stools, including the Theo, Hugo, and Carl, to ensure that the time you spend seated whilst treating patients is comfortable, ergonomic, and intelligent, for the best possible experience.
Maintaining dental professionals’ health is essential for protecting the future of the profession. Modern solutions mean that, whilst dental treatment requires extended periods of sitting at work, this can be a comfortable experience. Ergonomics play a big role in musculoskeletal health and, in conjunction with maintaining physical activity and reduced periods of SB, can help to reduce the risk of developing lower back pain.
For more information call Clark Dental on 01268 733 146, email info@clarkdental.co.uk or visit www.clarkdental.co.uk
STUART CLARK – MANAGING DIRECTOR
Having grown up within dentistry, Stuart has developed an unparalleled understanding of the industry. He is a technical specialist in digital imaging, pulling on his extensive experience as a Technical Director for Schick Technologies. Stuart is also an expert auto-CAD surgery designer and dental equipment engineer.
[i] World Health Organization. Low back pain. Accessed Oct 24. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/low-back-pain
[ii] Medical News Today. Reducing daily sitting time by 40 minutes may help prevent worsening back pain. Accessed Oct 24. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/reducing-daily-sitting-time-40-minutes-may-help-prevent-worsening-back-pain
[iii] Norha J, Sjöros T, Garthwaite T, et al. Effects of reducing sedentary behaviour on back pain, paraspinal muscle insulin sensitivity and muscle fat fraction and their associations: a secondary analysis of a 6-month randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2024;14:e084305. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-084305
[iv] Canadian Occupational Safety. The dangers of sedentary work. Accessed Oct 24. https://www.thesafetymag.com/ca/topics/occupational-hygiene/the-dangers-of-sedentary-work/313466
[v] FDI World Dental Federation. Ergonomics and posture guidelines for oral health professionals. Accessed Oct 24. https://www.fdiworlddental.org/sites/default/files/2021-04/FDI_HSDW_ergonomics_and_posture_guidelines_eng_2021.pdf
