Blog
Dentistry and Fitness: A winning combination for mental wellbeing
Blog
Dentistry and Fitness: A winning combination for mental wellbeing
Blog
13 May, 2024

In the fast-paced world of dentistry, stress can often loom large. Yet, for some, the rigours of the profession are met with an unexpected ally: sports and physical fitness. We sat down with one of our Associate Dentists, Rachael Dinsmore, to discuss the profound impact of sports on mental health and stress management.

Can you tell us more about your recent achievements in sports, particularly your completion of the Deeside Way Ultra Marathon and Hyrox?

I completed my first Hyrox event in Glasgow at the start of March (Hyrox is a functional fitness competition combining running 1km x8, with functional strength stations between the running). Six days later, I completed my second ultra marathon, The Deeside Way Ultra. It was 33.33 miles from Aberdeen to Banchory and back. I have since signed up for another Hyrox event in November, this time in Dublin. They were two mega-tough endurance events, so thankfully, I only have much shorter events (10kms) for the rest of this year.

How do you balance such intense physical activities with your career in dentistry?

This can be a struggle when working full time, but you have to be disciplined and consistent and prioritise your time. This has often meant 5 am alarms to get long training runs in! I either try to get my strength training sessions in before work at 8 am or on my lunch break at 1 pm. As I like to spend my evenings relaxing with my dog and husband. Striking the balance also means listening to your body and trying to fuel it as best as possible, and I do like to get my 8 hours of sleep in a night to help with recovery.

You mentioned that high-intensity and endurance training help you manage the daily stresses of dentistry. Could you elaborate on how physical activity contributes to your overall wellbeing and stress management?

Being fit and healthy certainly helps in a fast-paced working environment. My strength certainly comes in useful with tricky extractions. Being a full-time mainly NHS dentist could be an endurance sport in itself! I have been focusing on a lot of powerlifting, and I hope to enter my first competition soon. I have found that the strength that I have developed in this discipline has helped me maintain good posture, which I hope will stave off any future neck and back occupational pains. Some of the major benefits of strength training include supporting musculoskeletal health and improving heart health.

Hopefully, this will reduce the impacts of natural ageing processes like weakening bones. Being ten years into this demanding career, I need to look after my body and my mind if I want longevity within my career.

Dentistry is often considered a high-stress profession. How has incorporating sports and fitness into your routine positively impacted your ability to cope with this stress?

Dentistry is, without a doubt, a high-stress profession. I have found exercise to be a powerful tool to destress. Being active has many physical benefits but is also so good for your mind. When I’ve been out for a run before the working day starts, it makes me feel invigorated and accomplished—ready to take on whatever the day has in store. I also love walking my dog in the evenings after a busy day, as time to unwind and decompress.

From your experience, what specific benefits have you noticed regarding mental health and stress reduction since engaging in regular physical activity?

Having taken part in different sports over recent years, whether CrossFit, endurance running events, boxing or powerlifting – they have all helped strengthen my mental resilience. Being able to stay calm under pressure is definitely an attribute most dentists can appreciate needing to use daily.

It is all too easy to overthink or have anxious thoughts; training or having event goals helps manage and alleviate negative patterns of thought by giving me a positive focus and driving my physical self-performance. Having wins, no matter how small, helps with self-esteem and mood because I’ve found by challenging myself that I grow in confidence.

What advice would you give to other dental professionals who may be struggling to find ways to manage stress in their profession?

Be kind to yourself and make time to unwind. It is so important to look after your own wellbeing if you want to be fit enough to care for your patients in the future. Even if physical activity isn’t for you just yet, there are other ways to try to manage your stress—ask friends for book recommendations, get out in the garden, call a family member for a catch-up, or try a new audiobook or podcast. Just reach out, as support will always be available.

How do you suggest individuals find activities that work best for them?

Put yourself out there to try new things. Remember that everyone was once a beginner. I am not the best at what I do, but I enjoy it, and that’s what’s important to me. You’ll never manage to maintain a new hobby if you’re actually not enjoying it. You could try getting a coach to help keep you accountable or bring a friend for support.

In what ways do you think the dental profession as a whole could better promote the importance of physical activity among its members?

In busy practices, there are always so many time pressures. You need to know when to say no and be strict with yourself regarding timekeeping. Don’t over-stretch yourself trying to fit too much into one appointment for patients, and make sure your team knows how you want your appointment book to look. It is too easy when trying our best for our patients to let standards slip – not allowing yourself a full lunch break or working beyond opening hours etc. You need to get out of the four walls of your surgery as often as possible. Working within a supportive team really helps this – an understanding that we are only human too!

Beyond stress reduction, have you noticed any other professional or personal benefits from maintaining an active lifestyle?

Being active or having hobbies outside of dentistry is a great conversation starter with patients. Having worked at DCP for 10 years this August, many patients ask me how my dog is, what events I’m currently signed up for, how my training is going, etc. It is nice to build rapport with patients and this gives another level of trust within the dentist-patient relationship, as they know me more beyond just being their dentist.

Can you share any memorable moments or experiences where your commitment to fitness directly influenced your performance or mindset in the dental clinic?

When a male colleague needs my assistance with an extraction – that’s pretty rewarding and empowering. I think my determined and resilient mindset (strengthened within my sports) is needed daily in dentistry – there’s always a problem to overcome or an anxious patient to manage.

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