• Yuttasak Siangchum
• Rachot Klabprathum
• Patita Bhuridej

Objective  (1) to study the exercising behavior of dental students and the relationship between years of study and exercising time and (2) to study the prevalence of neck ache and backache of dental students.

Materials and methods  A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to a group of dental students of Chulalongkorn University in 2005. A stratified random sampling technique was used.

Results One hundred and ninety-four students returned the questionnaire giving a response rate of 100% (57 males and 137 females). Fourteen percent of them reported that they exercise regularly. The sixth-year-student had the highest frequency of exercising (27.3%) while the third-year-student had the lowest frequency (3.2%). The important cause of not exercising was “Having no time” (66%). Neck ache and backache were found in 43.8% and 47.4% of the students, respectively. The exercising frequency was significantly defferent between each year of study (p < 0.05). Gender was significantly related to the exercising frequency (p < 0.05).

Conclusion  The exercising behavior of dental students was different among years of study. Neck ache and backache were found in 43.8% and 47.4% of the students, respectively. Male students spent longer time in exercising than females, as well as the frequency of their exercise.

(CU Dent J.2006;29:195-204)