Aitor Baño Alcaraz

Background /Objectives: Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent among dentists, although the relationship between lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and symptoms remains unclear. This study aimed to identify lumbar MRI-derived structural profiles in actively practicing dentists and to examine their relationship with LBP, pain-related disability, demographic characteristics, occupational factors, and individual MRI findings. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 57 actively practicing dentists. Demographic, occupational, and clinical data were collected, and lumbar MRI examinations were performed using standardized protocols. MRI findings included disc bulging, disc herniation, annular fissure, Modic changes, osteophytes, facet joint degeneration, and spinal canal stenosis. Cluster analysis was used to identify MRI-derived structural profiles. Associations between profiles, LBP, disability, demographic characteristics, occupational factors, and individual MRI findings were assessed using chi-square tests and correspondence analysis. Results: Two distinct MRI-derived structural profiles were identified: a disc–facet degenerative profile (n = 38) and a non-osseous degeneration profile (n = 19). Disc bulging (100% vs. 52.6%, p < 0.001), facet joint degeneration (94.7% vs. 10.5%, p < 0.001), and osteophytes (23.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.022) significantly contributed to profile differentiation, whereas disc herniation, Modic changes, and annular fissure did not. Neither MRI-derived profile was associated with the presence of LBP or pain-related disability (p > 0.05). Younger dentists were more frequently classified within the disc–facet degenerative profile with LBP, whereas older dentists with similar structural findings were more commonly classified within the same profile without LBP (p = 0.007). No significant associations were observed between MRI-derived profiles and occupational characteristics. Conclusions: Two distinct lumbar MRI-derived structural profiles were identified in dentists, but neither was associated with LBP or pain-related disability. Age appeared to influence the clinical expression of the disc–facet degenerative profile, suggesting that lumbar MRI findings should be interpreted within a broader, age-sensitive clinical context rather than as isolated determinants of symptoms.

Background: The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, particularly low back pain (LBP) and neck pain (NP), is notably high among dentists. Several studies have examined associated factors such as age, gender, long working hours, non-ergonomic postures, and repetitive movements. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the gold standard for detecting spinal morphological changes; however, evidence shows that MRI findings do not always correlate with the presence or severity of LBP or NP. Purpose: This study aimed to compare the relative frequency of coexisting versus isolated NP and LBP and to assess their association with demographic, occupational, and MRI-based morphological factors. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among actively practicing dentists affiliated with the Professional College of Dentists and Stomatologists of Murcia. Data were collected during a single visit at an authorized radiology unit, including pain types, demographic and occupational data, and MRI measurements. Results: A total of 57 dentists participated. LBP was reported by 66.7% of participants, while NP was present in 70%; notably, 47.4% experienced both simultaneously. MRI findings revealed that the most common lumbar alterations were disc bulging (84.2%) and facet joint degeneration (66.7%), while cervical changes included disc bulging (66.7%) and herniated disc (54.4%). A significant association ( p = 0.010) was found between younger dentists and the coexistence of both pain types, as well as between middle-aged dentists (40–49 years) and isolated LBP. Conclusion: Nearly half of dentists experience coexisting NP and LBP, with coexistence strongly linked to individuals under 40 years of age.

Fibromyalgia is a widespread chronic condition. Although Clinical Practice Guidelines for fibromyalgia currently exist, their application in diagnostic and therapeutic settings faces significant implementation challenges across healthcare systems. This has led to a persistent gap between knowledge and clinical practice, a phenomenon yet to be explored in the Danish context. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the level of knowledge and adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines for fibromyalgia among Danish physical therapists, throughout a questionnaire consisting in the selection of the elements that they would consider for the adequate assessment, treatment, and expected duration of the therapeutic approach, to classify professionals as adherent, partially adherent, or non-adherent based on their selection of assessment and treatment components, and to evaluate their responses to 24 statements on a 5-point Likert scale reflecting their alignment with recommendations from Clinical Practice Guidelines. A total of 149 physiotherapists (mean age 39.26 ± 11.50, and gender-balanced) participated, amongst which 35 (23.49%) were classified as ‘adherent’, and 46 subjects (30.87%) were labelled as ‘partially adherent’ to Clinical Practice Guidelines. Participants’ assessment and therapeutic tools selection was generally aligned with the Clinical Practice Guidelines’ extolled recommendations, except for tender points examination and massage therapy. A number of 14 out of the 24 statements exceeded the predefined 70% agreement threshold. The current study reflects an adequate level of knowledge and adherence amongst physiotherapists in Denmark. Further research and targeted implementation strategies are needed to reduce the evidence-to-practice gap.

Background/Objectives: Neck pain is highly prevalent among dentists and has been linked to occupational exposure and cervical degeneration. However, the relationship between cervical MRI findings and symptoms remains inconsistent. This study aimed to explore MRI-based cervical structural profiles in active dentists and examine their associations with neck pain, disability, and participant characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 57 practicing dentists. Participants reported neck pain and completed the Numeric Pain Rating Scale and the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Cervical MRI scans were assessed by an experienced musculoskeletal radiologist. An exploratory hierarchical cluster analysis (complete linkage, Euclidean distance) was applied using MRI degenerative variables to identify structural profiles, followed by bivariate comparisons with clinical and occupational factors. Results: Degenerative MRI findings were common (disc bulging, 66.7%; disc herniation, 54.4%). Two MRI-based profiles were identified, one characterized by a higher burden of degenerative findings (including disc and facet changes) (70.2%), and another with fewer/milder degenerative features (29.8%). Neck pain and NDI scores ≥ 20 were more frequent in the higher-degeneration profile (p = 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). Age showed a non-linear pattern, with younger dentists reporting pain despite milder MRI changes, whereas older dentists showed more degeneration with fewer symptoms. Conclusions: In this exploratory study, individual MRI findings were not independently associated with neck pain, while a higher overall burden of degenerative changes tended to co-occur with greater symptom reporting and disability. These findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating and warrant confirmation in larger, longitudinal studies.

To evaluate the level of knowledge and adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines on fibromyalgia of physiotherapists in Spain. A cross-sectional study using an ad-hoc online survey was implemented to assess aspects on the assessment, treatment, and decision of the length of the therapeutic approach on fibromyalgia. Based on the results, professionals were classified as adherent, partially adherent, or non-adherent. The level of agreement with several statements on the condition was also evaluated across the professionals surveyed to evaluate the potential consensus. A total of 240 physiotherapists met inclusion criteria, amongst which 68 (28.33%) were adherent. The academic level of studies (Chi-square = 48.601, p-value = 0.001) and having had previous training in fibromyalgia (Chi-square = 151.011, p-value = 0.001) displayed statistically significant differences across adherence-based groups. Consensus was reached for 15 out of 24 statements. Our findings highlight the presence of an acceptable level of knowledge and adherence to clinical practice guidelines in the field of fibromyalgia among physiotherapists in Spain.Practice implicationsOur results also reveal the existence of an evidence-to-practice gap in the field, with potential room for improvement: further efforts on promoting and reinforcing the importance of evidence-based therapies are needed, from university teaching plans to clinical updates for daily practice.

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