150 Years of Modern Dentistry: Survival of the Fittest...
What about the pain?   Get on the Ball!! - by Tim Caruso

Tavelli Elementary, 2001

The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of the stability ball for sitting, in anelementary classroom, was effective in improving one or more of the following: (a)flexibility/range of motion, (b), strength/stability, (c) balance, (d) posture, (e), squirminess, and(f) ability to stay on task, in male and female sixth-graders, ages 11 to 12 years.Students were pre and post tested on seven motor tests and three classroom behaviortests. The seven motor tests included: Toe Touch, Trunk Rotation, Bent Knee Push-Ups,Tandem Heel-Toe Walking, Single Foot Balance, Pivot Prone, and Observable Posture. The three classroom behavior tests included: Squirminess, Time on Task, and Classroom Posture.After ten 20-minute stability ball sessions and 15 weeks of time on the ball, students were post tested. The resulted indicated a positive improvement by students on 59 percent of the tests.Every student who participated in the study by sitting on the stability ball improved, ashypothesized, in one or more of the following: (a) flexibility/range of motion, (b)strength/stability, (C) balance, (d) posture, (e) squirminess, and (f) ability to stay on task.Based upon the findings of the study, I recommend the implementation of the stabilityballs, instead of chairs, for the students in Mrs. Witt's classroom. I further recommend that theresearcher conduct stability ball training at Tavelli Elementary, and in the Poudre SchoolDistrict, for those teachers interested in introducing and using stability balls as chairs in their classroom.  Read more...

Stability Ball Chair versus a Traditional Dental Chair: A Comparison ofMuscle Activation and Spine Posture during a Typical Dental Hygiene Appointment
By: Nicholas LaDelfa
Department of Kinesiology
McMaster University

In many recent studies, it has been well established that dental hygienists work in postures thatmake them more susceptible to back pain and injury (Marklin & Cherney, 2005; Valachi &Valachi, 2003; Osborn, Newell, Rudney, & Stoltenberg, 1990). They also work in postures thatexpose them to long-duration static muscle loads that can cause musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) and pain (Marklin & Cherney, 2005). Some of the main factors that put hygienists atrisk for MSDs are the excessive flexion of the lumbar and cervical spine, lack of bi-lateralsymmetry, and prolonged static posture (Marklin & Cherney, 2005; Valachi & Valachi, 2003;Alexopoulos, Stathi, & Charizani, 2004). MSDs have been a main factor in the early retirementof many dental hygienists, leading to an increase in the number of preventative technologiesdesigned to improve dental hygiene ergonomics (Valachi & Valachi, 2003).The Evolution ChairTM, developed by Posture PerfectSolutions, is a specialized stability ball chair developed andmarketed for individuals who sit for an extended period of time. TheEvolution ChairTM consists of a high quality burst-resistant ballcontained within a moving base (figure 1). The major users of thischair are dentists and dental hygienists who are looking to improvetheir lower back and neck pain or possibly prevent the futureoccurrence of these ailments. Some of the claims made by PosturePerfect Solutions are that the Evolution ChairTM: takes pressure offthe spine, releases muscle tension, corrects posture, improvesbalance, and strengthens the torso through “active sitting”. They alsoclaim that the Evolution ChairTM offers a “therapeutic benefit toprofessionals in the dental industry”. Further, the Evolution ChairTMhas been awarded official recognition by the CanadianPhysiotherapy Association, who commented that the chair has beensuccessful in “providing a healthy way to sit and is suitable foranyone who sits”. Read more...


"Seats of Power"
Men's Journal Magazine 
February 2010