Effect of workplace-versus home-based physical exercise on musculoskeletal pain among healthcare workers: a cluster randomized controlled trial by Jakobsen MD, Sundstrup E, Brandt M, Jay K, Aagaard P, Andersen LL Physical exercise at work together with colleagues is more effective than home-based exercise in reducing musculoskeletal pain and use of analgesics among female healthcare workers. Affiliation 153Original article Scand J Work Environ Health. 2015;41(2):153-163. doi:10.5271/sjweh.3479 Effect of workplace-versus home-based physical exercise on musculoskeletal pain among healthcare workers: a cluster randomized controlled trial 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. MethodsThe 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.

A 12-week injury prevention programme in addition to training and match play in adolescent females altered the pattern of agonist-antagonist muscle preactivity during side cutting. This may represent a more ACL-protective motor strategy.

The results show that strength training prevents deterioration of work ability among slaughterhouse workers with chronic pain and work disability. Thus, strength training should be highly prioritized when designing occupational health programs aiming at maintaining work participation among employees with musculoskeletal disorders exposed to highly repetitive and forceful job tasks.Affiliation:

BackgroundImbalance between individual resources and work demands can lead to musculoskeletal disorders and reduced work ability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of workplace- versus home-based physical exercise on work ability among healthcare workers.MethodsTwo hundred female healthcare workers (Age: 42.0, BMI: 24.1, work ability index [WAI]: 43.1) from 18 departments at three Danish hospitals participated (Copenhagen, Denmark, Aug 2013—Jan 2014). Participants were randomly allocated at the cluster level to 10 weeks of: 1) workplace physical exercise (WORK) performed during working hours for 5x10 min per week and up to 5 group-based coaching sessions on motivation for regular physical exercise, or 2) home-based physical exercise (HOME) performed during leisure time for 5x10 min per week. Both groups received ergonomic counseling on patient handling and use of lifting aides. The main outcome measure was the change from baseline to 10-week follow-up in WAI.ResultsSignificant group by time interaction was observed for WAI (p < 0.05). WAI at follow-up was 1.1 (0.3 to 1.8) higher in WORK compared with HOME corresponding to a small effect size (Cohens’d = 0.24). Within-group changes indicated that between-group differences were mainly caused by a reduction in WAI in HOME. Of the seven items of WAI, item 2 (work ability in relation to the demands of the job) and item 5 (sickness absence during the past year) were improved in WORK compared with HOME (P < 0.05).ConclusionsPerforming physical exercise together with colleagues at the workplace prevents deterioration of work ability among female healthcare workers.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov NCT01921764. Registered 10 August 2013.