November 21, 2008 • RDH Magazine

by Ann-Marie C. DePalma, RDH, MEd, FAADH

As health professionals, dental hygienists know the importance of maintaining good physical health. But do we follow our own advice? Often, due to the hectic pace of dental hygiene, we do not. Soon, our neglected bodies rebel against us. Pain and limitation of motion set in; doing simple things can become most difficult. Juli Kagan, RDH, MEd, in her program, "Pilates and Stretches for the Dental Professional," offers hygienists and other dental team members the opportunity to learn to reduce pain and improve flexibility — issues that can present themselves from daily misuse of muscles.

The course reviews postural considerations for the seated dental professional including the prevalence of neck and shoulder injuries, spine and hip positioning, neutral seated posture, and the importance of movement. Juli incorporates Pilates and specific exercises and stretches geared for dental professionals, all of which can be done chairside, to help combat bad posture.

Juli also presents a down-to-earth program, "Eating Better for Healthier FUNction. She makes nutrition fun by providing a review of the new USDA food pyramid, "My Pyramid," along with an appraisal of high carbohydrate/high protein diets, and discussions concerning the truth about fats and glycemic loads, including examples of good sources of proteins, carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables. Juli also incorporates weight loss information, along with helpful daily hints.

The goals of Juli's Pilates program include:

• Identification of the causes of forward flexion of the spine during the seating posture

• Discussion of the prevalence of neck and shoulder injuries for the dental professional

• Explanation of the neutral pelvic position while seated, including neutral spine alignment

• Discussion of strategies for sitting, along with ergonomic tactics for the dental operatory to minimize physical strain or injury

• Demonstration of specific exercises for the dental professional that can be performed chairside to help prevent disease or maintain musculoskeletal health

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