Dental Students with Neck Pain Show Greater Activation of Superficial Cervical Muscles: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders, particularly neck pain, are common among dental students due to the prolonged and asymmetrical postures adopted during clinical practice. Previous studies have shown alterations in neuromuscular responses associated with neck pain, but few have investigated the impact of clinical practice on muscle activation patterns in students. Limited data exist on how this pain specifically affects superficial cervical muscles in students at the beginning of their clinical training, restricting the understanding of neuromuscular adaptation mechanisms in this at-risk population. Objective: To compare the activity of superficial cervical muscles between fourth-year dental students with and without neck pain, after one year of clinical practice. Methods: Thirty-one participants were assessed and divided into two groups: a neck-pain group (n = 11) and a control group (n = 19). The Neck Disability Index and electromyographic evaluation during the craniocervical flexion test were used to measure activation of the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Results: Participants with neck pain showed significantly greater neuromuscular activation in the left upper trapezius and the right sternocleidomastoid muscles. Conclusions: These findings suggest a compensatory neuromuscular adaptation to pain, likely associated with the systematic right-side working approach used in clinical practice, which requires left cervical rotation.