Effects of Preventive Physiotherapy Practices on Posture and Work-Related Functions in Office Workers

Marmara University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Office Workers; Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Treatments: Behavioral: Posture Training/Ergonomic Regulations Group; Behavioral: Supervised EMG Biofeedback Exercise Training Group; Behavioral: Home-Based Exercise Training Group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04198675

09.2018.282

Details and patient eligibility

About

In this study; aimed to determine an individual-centered, effective physiotherapy method to reduce the negative impacts of the forward head posture on work-related functions and to increase body awareness and functionality among office workers. In addition, aimed to reduce the loss of work with measures to improve the quality and efficiency of work.

Full description

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of preventive physiotherapy practices on work related musculoskeletal disorders in office workers.

With this purpose, in this study; aimed to achieve improvement on forward head posture, upper extremity functions and cervical pain reduction through three interventions (supervised EMG biofeedback exercise training, home-based exercise program and posture training/ergonomic regulations). Work related changes in muscle activation of Upper Trapezius and posture will be evaluated while working on a computer task in actual work environment. Differences in posture and muscle activation between computer task and resting position, will be determined before and after the intervention.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 22 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age below 40, Full-time and regular employees in the last 1 year,
• Office workers using computers at desk for at least 3 hours per day
• According to RULA, working in a posture that above acceptable level,
• No trauma history
• Non-specific neck pain but no chronic conditions of cervical spine and upper extremity

Exclusion criteria

• During the study; need of receiving a treatment/ interventions for the upper body due to trauma or any other conditions is concluded with withdraw from the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 3 patient groups

Supervised EMG Biofeedback Exercise Training Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Frequency: 3/week Duration:6 weeks Dosage: Tolerable intensity-dependent increase in exercises program.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Supervised EMG Biofeedback Exercise Training Group

Home-Based Exercise Training Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Frequency: 3/week Duration:6 weeks Dosage: Tolerable intensity-dependent increase in exercises program.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Home-Based Exercise Training Group

Posture Training/Ergonomic Regulations Group

Sham Comparator group

Description:

1 session, no further intervention until second evaluation for 6 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Posture Training/Ergonomic Regulations Group