Impact of Hand Eye-Coordination Exercises on Upper Limb Functional Performance and Disability Among Dentists with Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

BACKGROUND: Recent studies on dentists have reported that 70% of them are experiencing chronic nonspecific low back pain. The significance of hand-eye coordination in the treatment of low back pain has remained unrecognized and unappreciated until now. Therefore, the goal of this study was to combine the effects of hand-eye coordination exercises with core strengthening exercises in dentists with chronic non-specific low back pain. METHOD: This experimental study included 30 dentists with chronic non-specific low back pain. The samples were randomly divided into experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups. The experimental group performed hand-eye coordination exercises using the racket driller exercises along with the conventional exercises for 6 weeks on alternate days. The ODI, Plank test, and Alternate Wall toss test were used to measure impairment, core muscular strength, and hand-eye coordination. Between the Plank and AWT tests, there was a 2-hour rest time. RESULTS: The experimental group showed a significantly greater improvement in disability (p<0.01), core muscle strength (p<0.05), and hand-eye coordination (p< 0.05) than the control group. CONCLUSION: Hand-eye coordination exercises combined with core muscle strengthening exercises can improve upper limb functional performance and disability in dentists with chronic non-specific low back pain.