Postural and Muscle Fatigue Analysis of Endodontic Residents

The unit of analysis for this study consisted of the first and second year students of the Master's in Endodontics programme at the European University of Madrid (UEM) who completed the two years of annual clinical practice during the years 2022/24. A total of 10 students were enrolled over the two years of training, treating 30 patients (3 patients per student) in the first year and another 30 patients in the second year (for a total of 22 months). A video camera was used to record the procedures from three different angles for a maximum of 5 minutes (two side views - right and left - and one frontal view) on different patients, following the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Protocol for Video Recording for Job Analysis and Risk Assessment. The selected endodontic procedure focused exclusively on upper or lower first molars during the opening and ultrasonic search for the fourth canal in upper first molars or the search for the mesiobuccal canal in lower first molars. The standardised Nordic Kuorinka Musculoskeletal Symptom Perception Questionnaire was used as the measuring instrument. Questionnaire data were collected using a spreadsheet program (Microsoft Excel).

Inclusion criteria

• Students of the Master's Degree in Endodontics of the European University of Madrid (UEM), who have completed the two years of the annual teaching period of clinical practice.

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects previously diagnosed with a musculoskeletal disorder.
• Subjects who had suffered previous trauma affecting the musculoskeletal system.
• Pregnant women in their third trimester.
• Subjects who refused to participate.