“Odonto-physio” Program – Integration in search of a better quality of life

Abstract

Nowadays dentists suffer great risks with the appearance of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMD), also known as Repetition Strain Injuries (RSI), because they work many consecutive hours under pressure and without specific precautions related to their own posture during their work activities. Checking specific literature, we realize that most papers aim the rehabilitation when lesions are already present. The Centro Universitário Nove de Julho (UNINOVE) is beginning a pioneer prevention program of interaction between Dentistry and Physiotherapy graduation courses. This program is based on the established experience of great companies, where “labor gymnastics” is a daily routine in the work place of the participants. The program “Dentistry – Physiotherapy” intends to implement the labor gymnastics as a routine in Dentistry students activities, in laboratory and clinical level, conducted by teachers and students of Physiotherapy who will analyze the posture of each participant, giving them orientation about proper warm up and lengthening exercises. In the academic point of view, the program “Dentistry – Physiotherapy” aims the beginning of an important line of research through the interaction between Dentistry and Physiotherapy graduation courses, allowing the development of several researches, increasing the scientific initiative program and stimulating academic production.