Karya Journal of Health Science
EARLY ERGONOMIC STRESS IN DENTAL EDUCATION: CHANGES IN PRESSURE PAIN THRESHOLDS, BODY AWARENESS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DISCOMFORT AMONG PRECLINICAL DENTAL STUDENTS
Objective: Dentistry is widely recognized as an ergonomically challenging profession, with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) often developing early during undergraduate education. While physical workload is heavily studied, how preclinical education affects body awareness and pain sensitivity remains unexamined. This prospective observational study aimed to investigate concurrent changes in self-reported musculoskeletal discomfort, subjective body awareness, and objective pressure pain thresholds (PPT) …