Impact of Barre Stretching Among Dental Hygiene Students

NCT06279182 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: IRB-FY2024-106
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 11
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The healthcare profession of dental hygiene can be a highly stressful academic path and occupation. Physical stressors can quickly lead to postural disturbances and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to instrument grasping while under muscle tension, working with vibrating instruments, and performing repetitive micromovements. Chronic, high stress levels have the potential to lead to burnout, fatigue, and other health problems, which can impact a student's ability to perform well in their clinical rotations and didactic studies and may translate into their workforce experiences after graduation. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a relationship exists between Barre stretching and reported stress and pain levels among entry-level dental hygiene students. This study will be a 6-week experimental randomized control trial (RCT) where participants will be assigned to a 15-minute Barre stretching and breathing video two times a week for the experimental group or control group. The continuous dependent variables in this study will be the reported stress levels and reported pain levels of the entry-level dental hygiene students. The independent variable will be the Barre stretching intervention. The participants will include students at two universities enrolled in an entry-level dental hygiene program as first-year students. Baseline data collection for each participant will be obtained, and the study will be analyzed using descriptive statistics, a paired t-test and independent t-test. The statistical significance level will be set at p=0.05.

Conditions

Musculoskeletal Disorders; Stress Management; Perceived Stress; Reported Stress; Perceived Pain; Reported Pain

Keywords

dental hygiene students; ergonomics; prevention; stretching; barre

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Self-Reported Stress (Perceived Stress Scale)

  A change in the pre-to-post perceived stress test scores (likert scale 1-10: 1 being better, 10 being worst values).

  6 weeks

• Self-Reported Pain (Numerical Pain Rating Scale/Visual Analog Scale)

  A change in the pre-to-post perceived pain test scores (likert scale 0-10: 0 being no pain, 10 being worst pain possible).

  6 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Barre Stretching Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

15 minute Barre stretching video two times a week for 6 weeks.

Behavioral: Barre Stretching Intervention

Control Group: No Intervention

NO INTERVENTION

Participants do not participate in the Barre stretching intervention.

Interventions

Barre Stretching Intervention BEHAVIORAL

The Barre stretching intervention will consist of a 15-minute recorded video session with static and isometric movements focused on the hands, wrists, shoulders, and neck combined with breathing exercises throughout each movement. A 15-minute Barre stretching video will be selected for this study because static and isometric stretching should be held for 10-15 seconds per movement and repeated 2-3 times for increasing blood flow and circulation which can improve heart rate variability (HRV), increase muscle suppleness in preparation for muscle activation through patient care, and reduce stress levels through regulation of the rate, depth, and pattern of breathing. The duration of 15-minutes provided the participants with adequate time to complete each stretching movement for a total of 45 seconds with 15 seconds rest between movements. There will be fifteen targeted stretching movements focused on the hands, wrists, shoulders, and neck region.

Barre Stretching Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Participants of this convenience sample will be entry-level dental hygiene students (aged 18 or over) without any significant health limitations that will prevent the student from participating in Barre stretching movements.

You may not qualify if:

• Entry-level dental hygiene student individuals who are under the age of 18 and with significant health limitations that will prevent them from participating in Barre stretching movements, will not be included in the study. Significant health conditions will include unstable joints or recent joint replacements and/or history of back/spinal injuries. Significant health conditions deeming participants exempt from participation will include unstable joints or recent joint replacements, and/or history of back/spinal injuries.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Idaho State University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Idaho State University

Pocatello, Idaho, 83209, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Musculoskeletal Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principle Investigator

Model Details: The experimental group will receive the Barre stretching intervention. The control group will not receive any intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 29, 2024
• First Posted: February 26, 2024
• Study Start: September 9, 2024
• Primary Completion: October 18, 2024
• Study Completion: October 18, 2024
• Last Updated: May 8, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)