Functional outcome after high tibial osteotomy (HTO) was evaluated with respect to both improvement and goal achievement. Fifty-seven subjects, 32 men and 25 women, with a mean age of 55 years were examined with the Functional Assessment System (FAS) 6 and 12 months after surgery. The FAS is an evaluation system, specifically designed to monitor lower extremity dysfunction. It shows a profile with preoperative status, individual goal, and postoperative status. Statistically significant improvement was seen in 6/20 variables after 6 months, and in 10/20 variables after 12 months. When goal achievement was examined, the results were not as impressive. The treatment goal was not reached on the group level for almost all variables. On the individual level, only 20\N40% of the patients achieved the goal as a result of surgery in most variables. Exceptions were pain and leisure time/hobbies, where there was a high degree of goal achievement. It is possible that postoperative training was inadequate. The authors recommend a new randomized study, where patients who receive specific individual training related to the individual goal and functional profile are compared with a control group.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Arm movement and EMG mean power frequency in the trapezius muscle: a comparison between surface and intramuscular recording techniques.

In a previous study it has been shown that there is a systematic variation of the EMG mean power frequency recorded under dynamic conditions with surface electrodes from non-fatigued trapezius muscle. The variation was most pronounced in relation to shoulder joint angle. The aim of the present study was to find out whether this variation was caused by geometric factors such as electrode displacement, or by neuromuscular factors within the muscle. A comparison has been made between surface and intramuscular recordings. EMG was recorded with standard surface electrodes and with a monopolar "hooked wire" intramuscular electrode. The recordings were analyzed for calculation of mean power frequency (MPF) and root mean squared (RMS) signal level. For MPF we found a low, but statistically significant correlation (r = 0.30) between surface and intramuscular recordings. For RMS the corresponding correlation was high (r = 0.92). Analysis of variance showed a high proportion of explained variance related to the shoulder joint angle for surface recordings, but not for intramuscular recordings. The results were confirmed in the regression analysis. The results indicate that the observed variation is largely caused by geometric displacement of the surface electrodes and not by intrinsic neuro-muscular factors.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Musculoskeletal complaints in dental hygiene: a survey study from a Swedish county.

PURPOSE: Musculoskeletal complaints in dental hygienists all employed by the National Dental Service in a Swedish county were evaluated with a standardized questionnaire. METHODS: During an ergonomics course, a questionnaire similar to standardized Nordic questionnaires was completed by all 28 participants. The questionnaire elicited demographic data and the presence and location of musculoskeletal complaints. Standard descriptive statistical methods were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Subjects were all women, with a mean age of 40 years and a mean time of employment of five years. Most respondents worked part-time (mean 80%). Neck and shoulder complaints showed a clear predominance over other locations. Sixty-two percent of the subjects reported complaints associated with the neck and 81% with one or both shoulders during the previous 12 months. The frequency of complaints was higher on the right side. CONCLUSIONS: Most neck, shoulder, arm, and back complaints were considered work-related according to the dental hygienists themselves. The frequency of lower extremity complaints was low, and only a few of these complaints were considered work-related.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Ergonomic evaluation and construction of a reference workplace in dental hygiene: a case study.

PURPOSE: In an earlier survey study, a high frequency of complaints from the neck and shoulder were found in dental hygienists employed by the National Dental Service in Jönköping, Sweden. As a consequence of these survey findings, a new in-depth study of the workplace of one Swedish dental hygienist was performed to identify critical factors causing work-related pain in the neck and shoulders. This also served as a pilot study for testing simple ergonomic methods suitable for field studies in dental hygiene. METHODS: Several workplace evaluation methods were used: time distribution study, posture targeting diagrams, biomechanical computations, serial photography, and videorecording. RESULTS: All methods showed the same general picture--fixed working postures, a sparse movement pattern, work within a very limited work space, and long-standing static load on the neck and shoulder muscles. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of these findings, a reference workplace was designed to provide an ergonomically desirable environment. The load was reduced by means of a specific horseshoe-shaped support for the patient chair and a special armrest for the operator chair.

Brachial Plexus Neuritis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Work load, fatigue, and pause patterns in clinical dental hygiene.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have suggested that high frequencies of shoulder and neck complaints in dental hygienists mainly were due to longstanding, low-level static load of the neck and shoulder muscles. The purpose of the present study was to make continuous recordings of myoelectric signals from the shoulder muscles of dental hygienists in order to assess static load. METHODS: Myoelectric signals were recorded from the right trapezius muscle of 10 Swedish dental hygienists during half of a normal working day. A portable system for collection and on-line processing of myoelectric signals was used. Signal parameters were obtained, indicating muscular load, fatigue, pause frequency, and pause duration, respectively. All measurements were referred to a resting value and a reference contraction value established with the hand loaded with a 0.5 kg weight at the beginning of the recording session. RESULTS: A static load of 50 to 100% of the reference contraction (0.5 kg hand load with raised arm) was found in the trapezius muscle. The median load for the whole group was 57% of the reference level. Group data analyses of frequency EMG seldom showed significant fatigue. At individual levels, however, it was possible to identify localized muscle fatigue and relate it to a specific work task. There were many short pauses with a duration of 1 to 2 seconds, but an almost total lack of pauses of a duration longer than five seconds. CONCLUSIONS: Individual dental hygienists exhibited significant muscle fatigue that might be related to development of work related myalgias of the shoulder muscles. Future study of muscle patterns and dental hygiene tasks may lead to improved work designs and patterns for dental hygienists.

Adult↗