The prevention of musculoskeletal complaints: long-term effect of a work-related psychosocial coaching intervention compared to physiotherapy alone—a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Purpose Research shows that psychosocial factors play a significant role in the emergence of musculoskeletal complaints (MSC). The aim of this study was to determine the long-term effects on unspecific MSC by a combined physiotherapy and coaching intervention compared to physiotherapy alone. The coaching intervention focussed on enabling better strategies for coping with work stressors. Methods The participants of a previous randomized controlled intervention were invited to participate again in a third followup survey 22 months after the end of the intervention. In 2014, 65 nurses completed a 10-week personalised physiotherapy. Additionally, the intervention group (n = 33) passed five individual coaching sessions, plus an opening and closing session. 44 nurses (IG: n = 24; CG: n = 20) passed again a physical examination as well as another questionnaire assessment in 2016. The primary outcome was MSC, secondary outcomes were work ability and work-related well-being. Due to missing data, multiple imputations were conducted using the mice package in R. Data were analysed by ANOVA with two-way repeated measures, t tests for independent samples and Chi-squared tests. Results In respect of MSC, stronger improvement of movement in the vertebral column was observed in the IG compared to the CG. No differences between the IG and CG regarding other long-term effects were observed. Conclusions The results suggest that the combined intervention of work-related coaching and physiotherapy had only a marginally stronger long-term effect with respect to MSC than physiotherapy alone.

A scoping review to ascertain the parameters for an evidence synthesis of psychological interventions to improve work and wellbeing outcomes among employees with chronic pain

“…psychoeducation. Other interventions more generally reported the use of psychological and/or behavioural principles (27.5% of studies) (Becker, Angerer, Weber, & Muller, 2020 ; Beemster, van Bennekom, van Velzen, Frings-Dresen, & Reneman, 2020 ; Bergstrom, Bergstrom, Hagberg, Bodin, & Jensen, 2010 ; Bramberg, Bergstrom, Jensen, Hagberg, & Kwak, 2017 ; Brendbekken et al, 2017 ; Brendbekken, Vaktskjold, Harris, & Tangen, 2018 ; Brox et al, 2010 ; Caby et al, 2016 ; Hammond et al, 2017 ; Hampel & Tlach, 2015 ; Hardison & Roll, 2017 ; Hartfiel et al, 2017 ; Hutting et al, 2015 ; Law et al, 2016 ; Lebon, Rongières, Apredoaei, & Delclaux, 2017 ; Lindholdt et al, 2017 ; McCubbin et al, 2014 ; Sandsjo et al, 2010 ; Sullivan & Simon, 2012 ; Sullivan & Adams, 2010 ; Sullivan, Adams, & Ellis, 2012 ; Tan et al, 2016 ; van Vilsteren et al, 2017a ; van Vilsteren et al, 2017b ; Westman et al, 2010 ) ( Table 2 ).…”

“…Of the remaining 54% of studies containing a control group, 61% of them ( Berglund et al, 2018 ; Bergström et al, 2012 ; Busch et al, 2011 ; Busch et al, 2018 ; Campello et al, 2012 ; Chaléat-Valayer et al, 2016 ; Frederiksen et al, 2017 ; Hara, Bjørngaard, Brage et al, 2018 ; Hartfiel et al, 2017 ; Hutting et al, 2015 ; Irvine et al, 2015 ; Jensen et al, 2012b ; Lambeek et al, 2010 ; Law et al, 2016 ; Linton et al, 2016 ; Nguyen et al, 2017 ; Odeen et al, 2013 ; Rantonen et al, 2012 ; Rantonen et al, 2014 ; Rantonen et al, 2018 ; Rasmussen et al, 2016 ; Ree et al, 2016 ; Sander et al, 2020 ; Sandsjo et al, 2010 ; Soler-Font et al, 2019 ; Tan et al 2016 ; van Vilsteren et al, 2017a ; van Vilsteren et al, 2017b ; Werner et al, 2016 ; Westman et al, 2010 ) overtly reported ‘no intervention’ or ‘usual’ or ‘standard’ care, although frequently little detail was provided on what ‘usual care’ consisted of. The remaining studies (39%) reported a specific control condition (Andersen et al, 2015 , 2016 ; Becker et al, 2020 ; Bethge et al, 2011 ; Bramberg et al, 2017 ; Brendbekken et al, 2017 ; Brendbekken et al, 2018 ; Brox et al, 2010 ; Coole et al, 2013 ; Gross et al, 2017 ; Hammond et al, 2017 ; Hampel et al, 2019 ; Hampel & Tlach, 2015 ; Jorgensen et al, 2011 ; Knapp et al 2015 ; Marchand et al, 2015 ; Myhre et al, 2014 ; Park et al, 2018 ; Schlicker et al, 2020 ), for example...…”

“…Other outcomes, some of which were also indicators of return-to-work status, broadly measured the ability to participate in and be productive in work, including self-reported work ability ( Table 3 ). This was measured, for example, using a measure of the Work Ability Index (Becker et al, 2020 ; Calner et al, 2017 ; Coole et al, 2013 ; Frederiksen et al, 2017 ; Johansen et al, 2019 ; Jorgensen et al, 2011 ; Hampel et al, 2019 ; Knapp et al, 2015 ; Rasmussen et al, 2016 ; Saltychev et al, 2014 ; Sandsjo et al, 2010 ; Sorensen et al, 2010 ). A change to employment status and presenteeism were less frequently measured ( Table 3 ).…”

“…The scoping review findings also lay the foundation for future systematic review work. The review has identified numerous RCTs of psychological interventions that address work, health and wellbeing outcomes among employees with musculoskeletal disorders (Andersen et al, 2015 ; Andersen et al, 2016 ; Becker et al, 2020 ; Berglund et al, 2018 ; Bergström et al, 2012 ; Bethge et al, 2011 ; Busch et al, 2011 ; Bramberg et al, 2017 ; Brendbekken et al, 2017 ; Brendbekken et al, 2018 ; Brox et al, 2010 ; Calner et al, 2017 ; Campello et al ( 2012 ); Chaléat-Valayer et al, 2016 ; Coole et al ( 2013 ); Hartfiel et al ( 2017 ); Frederiksen et al, 2017 ; Gismervik et al, 2020 ; Gross et al, 2017 ; Hammond et al, 2017 ; Hampel et al, 2019 ; Hara, Bjørngaard, Brage et al, 2018 ; Harris et al, 2017 ; Hutting et al, 2015 ; Irvine et al, 2015 ; Jensen et al, 2011 ; Jensen et al, 2012a , 2012b ; Jorgensen et al, 2011 ; Knapp et al, 2015 ; Lambeek et al, 2010 ; Lindholdt et al, 2017 ; Linton et al, 2016 ; Marchand et al, 2015 ; Mhyre et al, 2014; Nguyen et al, 2017 ; Odeen et al, 2013 ; Park et al, 2018 ; Pato et al, 2010 ; Pereira et al, 2019 ; Rasmussen et al, 2016 ; Rantonen et al, 2012 ; Rantonen et al, 2014 ; Rantonen et al, 2018 ; Ree et al, 2016 ; Reme et al, 2016 ; Sander et al, 2020 ; Sandsjo et al, 2010 ; Schlicker et al, 2020 ; Soler-Font et al, 2019 ; Sorensen et al, 2010 ; Stapelfeldt et al, 2011 ; Streibelt & Bethge...…”

The effects of ergonomic intervention on the musculoskeletal complaints and fatigue experienced by workers in the traditional metal casting industry

“…Several other studies have shown differing results based on data collection during ergonomic intervention follow-ups that were used to determine changes resulting from the effects of ergonomic intervention. Some of the effects manifest after two months following the intervention [21], while others are not felt until 4, 8, or 12 months after the intervention [22], or even after 12 months [23,24], 18 months [25], 22 months [26], or 24 months [27] following the intervention. Changes determined based on data collected during follow-ups are influenced by differences in the characteristics of the work carried out by the research subjects.…”