Investigation of Grip Strength, Pain and Anxiety Levels in Dentists

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Grip; Muscle Disorder; Pain, Chronic; Anxiety

• Registration Number: NCT06721117
• Lead Sponsor: Hacettepe University

Brief Summary

The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between professional experience and grip strength, pain threshold and anxiety level in dentists. As a result of the results obtained, we aim to contribute an original study to the literature and to increase awareness by informing the dentists participating in the study.

Detailed Description

Our hypotheses:

H1: Professional experience has an effect on hand grip strength in dentists. H2: Professional experience has an effect on finger grip strength in dentists. H2: Professional experience has an effect on pain in dentists. H3: Professional experience has an effect on anxiety level in dentists.

The unique value of our study is that it is the first study to examine the relationship between dentists' professional experience and grip strength, pain, and anxiety. When we look at the literature, we have not found any studies examining the effect of dentists' professional experience on grip strength and pain. In the study, grip strength, pain threshold, and forearm grip strength will be evaluated. Grip strength will be assessed with a Jamar hand dynamometer, pinch grip with a Baseline brand pinchmeter, pain threshold with a dolorometer, and forearm grip strength with a handheld dynamometer. Anxiety will be assessed with the Beck Anxiety Questionnaire.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2024-11-30
• Status Verified: 2024-12
• Study Start: 2024-12-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-12-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-12-05
• Study First Posted: 2024-12-06
• Last Update Posted: 2024-12-06
• Primary Completion: 2025-01-30
• Study Completion: 2025-01-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 50

Inclusion Criteria

• Graduating from the Faculty of Dentistry
• Having 1 year or more professional experience

Exclusion criteria;

• Having received physical therapy from any area in the last 6 months or currently receiving physical therapy,
• Having a congenital musculoskeletal deformity,
• Having a neurological or rheumatic disease,
• Having undergone surgery due to a musculoskeletal disorder.

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Handgrip assessment	up to one week	Grip strength will be determined by evaluating the gross grip and pinch grip. A pinchmeter (Baseline Mechanical Pinch Gauge) will be used to measure the fine grip strength. The measurement of hand grip and finger grip strength will be made in the recommended standard position of sitting, shoulder adduction and neutral rotation, elbow 90 degrees flexed, forearm in mid-rotation and supported, wrist in neutral. In the test procedure, 3 measurements will be taken for hand grip and finger grip strength with one minute intervals between each measurement and the averages will be recorded.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Forehand muscle strength assessment	up to one week	Wrist isometric muscle strength assessment will be performed with a handheld dynamometer (Lafayette Instrument Company, Lafayette, Indiana, USA). Patients will be positioned in the supine, prone and sitting positions, using the positions required for the fine muscle testing method described by Lovett, and will be performed before compensatory movements occur. Wrist flexor and extensor muscles will be assessed. The values obtained with isometric contraction will be recorded in pounds.
Pain thereshold assessment	up to one week	Pain sensitivity to pressure will be assessed with a pain measuring device called an algometer. The Baseline Dolorimeter brand algometer will be used in the assessment. 3 measurements will be taken from the "midpoint of the upper trapezius muscle" and "C7" points between the lateral edge of the acromion and C7. The areas will be marked before the measurement. The algometer will be placed perpendicular to these points. The patients will be asked to report the moment they first feel pain and 30 seconds of rest will be given between measurements. The value on the display will be read and the pain threshold will be recorded in pounds (1kg=2.2 pounds).
Anxiety level assessment	up to one week	The anxiety level will be determined with the Beck Anxiety Inventory. The Beck Anxiety Inventory is a scale developed by Aaron T. Beck (1988). This scale consists of 21 questions. For each item, the patient is asked to report how he/she has felt during the past week.; The items are scored as 0, 1, 2 or 3. The score range is between 0-63. For the total score, \< 21 is considered mild, 22-35 is considered moderate, and \> 36 is considered severe. The Turkish validity study of the Beck anxiety scale was conducted by Ulusoy et al (1996).