Myofeedback training and intensive muscular strength training to decrease pain and improve work ability among female workers on long-term sick leave with neck pain: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

The theoretical framework is that muscle tension in the neck is related to insufficient muscular rest and is a risk factor for chronic pain and reduced work ability. Promoting muscle strength and muscle rest may increase work ability and reduce neck pain.ObjectivesTo test whether myofeedback training or intensive strength training leads to decreased pain and increased work ability in women on long-term sick leave.MethodsThis is a randomized controlled trial of two 1-month interventions with myofeedback or muscular strength training in the home environment. Female human service organization workers (n = 60) on long-term (>60 days) sick leave and with chronic neck pain were followed with self-reported and laboratory-observed data of health, pain, muscular activation, and work ability, at baseline, immediately after the intervention and 3 months after baseline.ResultsFor both intervention groups, pain was lowered over time compared with the control group. Decreased pain and muscular activity was associated with increased self-rated work ability and with laboratory-observed work ability at 3-month follow-up. Decreased pain was also associated with increased self-rated work ability at 1-month follow-up. Muscular strength training was associated with increased self-rated work ability and mental health. Myofeedback was associated with increased observed work ability and self- rated vitality.ConclusionsThe two interventions showed positive results, suggesting that they could be developed for use in health care practice to address pain and work ability. The intensive muscular strength training program, which is both easy to conduct at home and easy to coach, was associated with increased work ability.

Outcomes of an interdisciplinary work rehabilitation program

“…This finding expands upon prior research that has examined many factors and outcomes relating to RTW but has not accounted for other functional outcomes of work rehabilitation programs (e.g., strength) [9,10]. Although strength has been found to be an important characteristic in patient health [14][15][16] and may influence a patient's RTW status [11], limited research exists within the context of work rehabilitation programs to corroborate this outcome and further research examining functional outcomes of work rehabilitation programs may be fruitful. Supporting the hypotheses, results illustrated that more days off work prior to starting the work rehabilitation program may have deleterious effects on patients' RTW status upon discharge.…”

“…Moreover, physical strength, defined in the current study as lifting capacity in relation to job tasks, is an important aspect in patient health [14][15][16] and may influence a patient's RTW status [11]. Previous studies have defined strength as muscular or isometric strength [14,16], which is different from this study as we defined strength in a functional way to assess performance of physical job demands.…”

“…Moreover, physical strength, defined in the current study as lifting capacity in relation to job tasks, is an important aspect in patient health [14][15][16] and may influence a patient's RTW status [11]. Previous studies have defined strength as muscular or isometric strength [14,16], which is different from this study as we defined strength in a functional way to assess performance of physical job demands. Func-tional assessments of strength are compatible with contemporary work rehabilitation models for RTW [15], but there is limited evidence to support utilizing lifting capacity as a functional measure of strength [11] and further investigation is needed.…”

Workplace health promotion and employee health in Swedish municipal social care organizations

“…As there are many factors that are alike, it might be possible to crystalize working-life factors that are important for employee health. There are some previous studies in the social care sector about socio-demographic, organizational, and individual factors associated with employee health and ability to work (Dellve, et al 2006;Dellve, et al 2011;Larsson, et al 2012). There are also studies targeting associations between WHP measures and outcomes such as physical activity and/or nutrition, and health (Jonsdottir, et al 2010) and workability (Flannery, Resnick & McMullen, 2012).…”

Effects of Diaphragm Strengthening on Severity of Pain and Functional Parameters in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain

“…71,72 Intensive strengthening exercises taken for a short period of time are not always very effective in reducing pain intensity. 73 There are many factors (fear, structural abnormality, pain, posture reduction etc.) which maintain the vicious cycle in chronic low back pain, if intervention is capable of reducing one of the maintaining factors, the vicious cycle may be broken.…”