Category Archives: Tip of the Month
Monthly Stretch Tip: Side Stretch
Take a few short minutes to step away from your work, take a deep breath, and get in a good stretch! Neck, shoulder and back pain can be career limiting problems in the workplace, especially for dental professionals, due to increasing hours spent awkwardly sitting chairside.
It doesn’t take long at all to give your health and body some much-needed attention, so step aside…
20 Chairside Stretches
Most dental professionals know that the key to a long and healthy, pain-free career is to, as Bethany Valachi, a leading dental ergonomic consultant, puts it, … “Ergonomize your Operatory.” The term is simple. You should practice dentistry using ergonomic dental equipment that reduces straining and twisting, and incorporate regular chairside stretches into your daily routine.
Since ergonomics have always been front and center…
Fitness Can Make OR Break Your Career
I think it is no secret that physical fitness is one of the most crucial factors in maintaining overall good health, but it is especially important for dental professionals as it could literally make or break your career.
In a recent newsletter from ergonomic expert, Bethany Valachi, she points out the startling statistic that nearly 1/3 of dentists who retire early are forced to…
Holiday Gift Guide
So I’m taking a break from my usual dental related blog posts to assist my fellow friends with some holiday shopping ideas! Buying holiday gifts for friends and family can wreak havoc at times; you’re dealing with long lines, crowded stores, and stressed-out shoppers. Trying to find the right gift can be hard. So I have developed my own top ten gift ideas for…
Stretching Series
Throughout the year, I have provided monthly stretching exercises to help alleviate neck, back and shoulder pain. Stretching should be an important part of your daily or weekly routine because as we all know, most of us find ourselves in a seated position for a good portion of the day either behind the computer, driving in the car, or practicing chair-side.
As a result, our…
Healthy Alignment Improves Overall Body Health
After reading the article, Improve Your Posture, written by Susan S. Parker, RDH, Med, MBA, in my October issue of Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, I thought one of her suggested stretches would make the perfect monthly stretch tip.
The article actually discusses the whole physical fitness system of Pilates, but Parker focuses on one specific stretch that you can easily incorporate into your daily or…
Monthly Stretch: Middle Back
Monthly stretch time! It’s time for my monthly reminder about the importance of taking 5 minutes out of your busy week to stretch! Half of all dental professionals complain of neck, shoulder and back pain from years of practice due to long and awkward chairside positions.
This month I am focusing on strengthening our core with a Middle Back Stretch:
- Stand
…
Stretching to Pain-Free
For this month’s ergonomic stretching tip I am turning to the dental ergonomic expert, Bethany Valachi, for her professional insight.
Bethany’s website, Posturedontics.com, states an alarming statistic – that 2 out 3 dental members experience chronic pain. According to Bethany, shoulder pain is listed as the most frequently reported musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) among hygienists, and ranks second for MSDs reported by dentists. If shoulder pain…
Monthly Stretch
Well it’s summer and you’ve spent some time relaxing on the beach, taking that family vacation, and hopefully, enjoying some well-deserved time off…but even after a vacation, by spending 8 hours chair side you still find your neck, shoulders and back in that same old tense situation.
Let’s relieve some of that upper body tension with the following stretch:
Torso Twist
- First, inhale deeply.
…
Monthly Stretch Tip
As I sit here rubbing my stiff shoulders, I realize it has been awhile since I have done a stretch post – and I’m feeling like it’s long overdue! So, step away from your awkward chair-side postures for a moment and start to relieve those nagging aches and pains. And for this one, you don’t even have to leave your seat!
Seated Back Stretch:…
