Journal Article

Effect of Workplace-Versus Home-based Physical Exercise on Musculoskeletal Pain among Healthcare Workers: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Emil Sundstrup, Markus D Jakobsen, Mikkel Brandt, Kenneth Jay, Per Aagaard, Lars L Andersen

2015

Overview

Objective Numerous studies has shown that regular physical exercise can reduce musculoskeletal pain, but the optimal setting to achieve high adherence and effectiveness remains unknown. This study investigated the effect of workplace versus home-based physical exercise on musculoskeletal pain among healthcare workers. Methods The randomized controlled trial (RCT) comprised 200 female healthcare workers from 18 departments at 3 hospitals. Participants were randomly allocated at the cluster level to ten weeks of: (i) workplace physical exercise (WORK) performed during working hours for 5×10 minutes per week and up to 5 group-based coaching sessions on motivation for regular physical exercise, or (ii) home-based physical exercise (HOME) performed during leisure time for 5×10 minutes per week. Both groups received ergonomic counseling on patient handling and use of lifting aides. Average pain intensity (0–10 scale) in the low back and neck/shoulder was the primary outcome. Results Per week, 2.2 (SD 1.1) and 1.0 (SD 1.2) training sessions were performed in WORK and HOME groups, respectively. Pain intensity, back muscle strength and use of analgesics improved more following WORK than HOME (P<0.05). Between-group differences at follow-up (WORK versus HOME) was −0.7 points for pain intensity [95% confidence interval (95% CI) −1.0–−0.3], 5.5 Nm for back muscle strength (95% CI 2.0–9.0), and −0.4 days per week for use of analgesics (95% CI −0.7–−0.2). The effect size for between-group differences in pain intensity was small (Cohen's d=0.31). Conclusions Workplace physical exercise is more effective than home-based exercise in reducing musculoskeletal pain, increasing muscle strength and reducing the use of analgesics among healthcare workers.

• Publisher: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health,Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health,Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health,Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Analgesics / back pain / Biomedical research / Blood pressure / Clinical trials / cluster randomized controlled trial / Coaching / Departments / Exercise / Exercise Therapy / Family medical history / Female / Groups / Health care / Health care industry / Health Personnel / Health services / healthcare / healthcare worker / Heart attacks / Home based / Home Care Services / Hospitals / Humans / Hypotheses / Intervention / Leisure / Medical personnel / Middle Aged / Motivation / msd / Muscle strength / musculoskeletal disorder / Musculoskeletal pain / Musculoskeletal Pain - physiopathology / Musculoskeletal Pain - rehabilitation / Neck / neck pain / Occupational Health / Older people / Pain / Pain Measurement / physical exercise / Questionnaires / randomized controlled trial / Randomized controlled trials / Shoulder / shoulder pain / strength training / Studies / Values / Work / Workers / Working hours / Working women / Workplace / Workplaces / Young Adult