Back for the future

As a dentist, there’s a strong possibility that you may have already experienced back discomfort or even back pain, which can have an effect on your practising life.

In your day-to-day working life, from examinations and treatments to desk-bound tasks carried out in front of a computer screen, your posture is regularly distorted and prolonged periods can be spent holding the body in one position. As a result, chronic lower back conditions, excruciating muscle spasms and long term disorders affecting the neck, shoulders, back and even the limbs are all too common. They can strike at any time, whatever your age.

To those who recover relatively quickly, back pain episodes can be annoying, uncomfortable and may necessitate a little time off work. Others might suffer the impact for the rest of their lives, resulting in substantial loss of earnings and, for the unfortunate few, the untimely end of their careers.