Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in Dental students

The aim of this study was to verify the prevalence of pain symptom in Dental Students, their life habits and the use of drugs. Deal with a cross-sectional analytical study, performed over 3 months, with sample composed by 247 Dental Students. Data were collected using a self-applied instrument which had the follow social and demographic variables; variables concerning the habits; the use of drugs; and disciplines concluded. Besides, the musculoskeletal disorders were evaluated using Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Among the studied students, 156 (63.15%) were women, the age average was 22 years, the majority of total reported to practice some physical activity (60.32%). The majority of participants (68.62%) did not have harmful habits but practiced physical activities (60.57%). The presence of pain during the last 12 months was observed in 205 participants (83.0%), and among them, 88 (42.93%) practiced the self-medication with analgesics and anti-inflammatories. More the half of interviewed people pointed the presence of neck pain (51.8%) and inferior part of back pain (50.6%) over the last 12 months, while less than half of participants reported pain in superior part of back (49.4%) and wrists/hands (38.4%). Musculoskeletal pain in inferior extremities of body, were reported by less than 30% of interviewed people. Few of them search for counseling of doctor or treatment for a musculoskeletal disorder over than 12 months (10.9%)The high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was observed in dental students, although they use to practice physical activity regularly and they use to have no harmful habit.