Exercise, Rest Breaks and Ergonomics Modification on Fatigue and MSK Discomfort in Static Workstation

Musculoskeletal Pain Clinical Trial

Official title:

Effects of Exercise, Rest Breaks and Ergonomics Modification on Fatigue and Musculoskeletal Discomfort in Static Workstation Office Workers

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04857853
• Other study ID #: REC/00858 Anam Rehman
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: October 14, 2020
• Est. completion date: July 10, 2021

Study information

• Verified date: July 2021
• Source: Riphah International University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The current study examines the effects of exercise, ergonomic modifications, and rest breaks on fatigue and musculoskeletal discomfort during computer tasks. For the purpose of this project, musculoskeletal discomfort is defined as a constellation of signs and symptoms that include muscle tension, paresthesia, pain, and/or physical strain in soft tissues and bones.

Description:

Static workstation workers frequently experience musculoskeletal discomfort which, according to a survey of the literature, may include muscle tension, muscle fatigue, paresthesia, pain, and/or physical strain in soft tissues and bones. The incidence of musculoskeletal discomfort in office workers like computer users is as high as 50%. In various studies on static workstation workers, musculoskeletal discomfort has been reported, either separately or in aggregate, in the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, back, legs, buttocks, ankles, feet, and chest. The current study examines the effects of exercise, ergonomic modifications, and rest breaks on fatigue and musculoskeletal discomfort during computer tasks. For the purpose of this project, musculoskeletal discomfort is defined as a constellation of signs and symptoms that include muscle tension, paresthesia, pain, and/or physical strain in soft tissues and bones.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 42
• Est. completion date: July 10, 2021
• Est. primary completion date: June 15, 2021
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 25 Years to 45 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Both male and female
• Age: 25-45 years
• Those static workstation office workers using a computer for at least 6 hours per day.
• Static workstation office workers screened by ROSA.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Discomfort from non-musculoskeletal origin
• Recent history of trauma and receiving any kind of treatment for the current condition
• Severe orthopedic disease
• Any mental and physiological illness that could interfere in the exercise

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Musculoskeletal Pain

Intervention

Other:
• Exercise Without Rest Break
Participants in the exercise group will receive 'Exercise Breaks', of 10 minutes, twice a day during the work hours, in addition to the two 'Conventional Rest Breaks' of 15 minutes, twice a day during the work hours. Exercises include shoulder shrugs, neck tilts, wrist and forearm stretch, back and hip stretch, upper body stretch, hamstring stretch, upper back stretch, hand/finger stretch. Side stretch and neck stretch. Follow up 3 times a week for 5 weeks.
• Exercise With Rest Break
Participants in the exercise with rest break group will receive 'Exercise Breaks', of 10 minutes, twice a day during the work hours, in addition to the two 'Conventional Rest Breaks' of 15 minutes, twice a day during the work hours. Participants will also receive 'Supplemental Micro Breaks', of 30 seconds after every 15 minutes of working on a static computer workstation Follow up 3 times a week for 5 weeks.
• Rest Break
Participants in the rest breaks group will receive 'Supplemental Micro Breaks', of 30 seconds after every 15 minutes of working on a static computer workstation in addition to the two 'Conventional Rest Breaks' of 15 minutes twice a day during the work hours. Follow up 3 times a week for 5 weeks. During the rest breaks, participants will not perform any exercises.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Pakistan	Foundation University	Islamabad	Punjab

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Riphah International University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Pakistan, 

References & Publications (8)

Barredo RDV, Mahon K. The effects of exercise and rest breaks on musculoskeletal discomfort during computer tasks: An evidence-based perspective. Journal of Physical Therapy Science. 2007;19(2):151-63.

Daneshmandi H, Choobineh AR, Ghaem H, Alhamd M, Fakherpour A. The effect of musculoskeletal problems on fatigue and productivity of office personnel: a cross-sectional study. J Prev Med Hyg. 2017 Sep;58(3):E252-E258. Review. — View Citation

Hamberg-van Reenen HH, van der Beek AJ, Blatter BM, van der Grinten MP, van Mechelen W, Bongers PM. Does musculoskeletal discomfort at work predict future musculoskeletal pain? Ergonomics. 2008 May;51(5):637-48. doi: 10.1080/00140130701743433. — View Citation

Hou JY, Shiao JS. Risk factors for musculoskeletal discomfort in nurses. J Nurs Res. 2006 Sep;14(3):228-36. — View Citation

Menzel NN, Brooks SM, Bernard TE, Nelson A. The physical workload of nursing personnel: association with musculoskeletal discomfort. Int J Nurs Stud. 2004 Nov;41(8):859-67. — View Citation

Rahimi R. Effect of different rest intervals on the exercise volume completed during squat bouts. J Sports Sci Med. 2005 Dec 1;4(4):361-6. eCollection 2005 Dec. — View Citation

Tarwaka P, Bakri LS. Ergonomi Industri Dasar-dasar pengetahuan ergonomi dan aplikasi di tempat kerja. Surakarta: Harapan Press; 2010.

Willardson JM, Burkett LN. A comparison of 3 different rest intervals on the exercise volume completed during a workout. J Strength Cond Res. 2005 Feb;19(1):23-6. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire	To assess the severity of musculoskeletal discomfort. minimum as Never = 0, and maximum as Several times every day = 10 The discomfort score is the severity of discomfort categorized as 'mild', 'moderate', and 'severe discomfort'.	6th week
Primary	Chalder fatigue scale	Each of the 11 items is answered on a 4-point scale ranging from the asymptomatic to maximum symptomology, such as 'Better than usual', 'No worse than usual, 'Worse than usual, and 'Much worse than usual.	6th week