Musculoskeletal Injuries Flashcards
What are the Musculoskeletal Disorders Affecting Dental Hygienists? (5)
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
- Disc Herniation
Define Carpal Tunnel Syndrome…
Symptomatic compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel.
What are the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Numbness, tingling in the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
What are the causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Deviation of the wrist from neutral
Pinch grasp with insufficient rest
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome:
Painful disorder of the fingers, hand, and/or wrist from compression of the brachial nerve plexus and vessels between the neck and shoulder.
Causes of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome…
Tilting head forewards
Hunched/rounded forward shoulders
Continuously reaching overhead.
Symptoms of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome…
Numbness, tingling, and/or pain in the hand or wrist
Bursitis
Inflammation of the bursa
Causes of Bursitis
Areas of friction or impingement anywhere in the body, usually the shoulder.
Symptoms of Bursitis…
Decreased range of motion, aching.
Tendonitis…
Painful inflammation of the wrist resulting in strain.
Causes of tendonitis
repeated wrist extension or palmar flexion
Symptoms of tendonitis…
Pain in the wrist (especially on the outer edges of the hand.)
Disc Herniation…
Displacement of the nucleus of the disc with resultant pressure on the spinal cord or peripheral nerves.
Causes of disc herniation…
prolonged, static postures of forward flexion, hyperextension, lateral bending, or rotation of the spine.
Can present of cervical, thoracic, or lumbar areas of the spine.
