A stool that has your back

A-dec explains how an ergonomic and comfortable chair can extend your dental career and improve your health

Anyone who has ever suffered from back pain will know that it can have a significant impact on your mood, sleep, work and overall quality of life.

Back pain is a major contributor to shortened dental careers, and A-dec believes this can be better mitigated.

Put your health first

Many dental health professionals are familiar with some form of muscle strain, fatigue or pain. This can be due to several hours spent leaning or bending over patients, trying to gain the best possible view of the oral cavity.

A lot of those health issues, particularly ischaemia and premature disc degeneration, are connected to how we have been taught to sit; with thighs parallel to the floor and hips at a 90o angle.

This is probably a legacy of the flat, non-adjustable seats of early dental chair designs.

Better positioning

Research by a physical therapist for Dental Economics (2009) found that positioning the hips higher than the knees for an increased hip angle resulted in reduced lower back muscle activity and disc pressure.

Chairs with a tilting seat were recommended, to maintain the curve of the lower back because they decreased pressure on discs. This allows closer positioning to the patient and reduces lower back pain overall.

Consider how much time you spend on your dental stool. Assuming you typically practise sitting down and over a 37.5-hour week, for 48 weeks of the year, that equates to 1,800 hours sat in your dental stool each year.

If your stool is unsupportive and causing you aches and pains, it may be worth investing in a more ergonomic solution.

Worth the investment

Everything about the A‑dec 500 stool is designed to flex, form and adjust to your every move, for total all-day comfort and support.

The contoured backrest cradles the spine and a tilted seat distributes weight from seat to feet, while encouraging blood flow and promoting proper circulation.

Whether you have started to notice the occasional ache, or you work in constant pain, an A-dec stool could not only ease your back pain, but extend the length of your dental career significantly.

For the reference mentioned in this article, contact [email protected]

If you would like to try an A-dec 500 stool for a couple of weeks, free of charge, please call 0800 233 285 or email [email protected] for more information. Your local A-dec territory manager can also offer advice on posture, ergonomics and patient positioning.

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