Stress and Musculoskeletal Health in Employees (MUStress)

University of Thessaly

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Musculoskeletal Pain; Occupation-related Stress Disorder; Musculoskeletal Health; Work Related Stress; Musculoskeletal Diseases or Conditions; Medically Unexplained Symptoms; Stress

Treatments: Other: Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR); Other: Diaphragmatic breathing (DF)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06488547

2224/14-04-2022

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to evaluate potential correlation of stress as estimated by certain biological markers, namely saliva cortisol, Heart rate variability (HRV), Electromyography (EMG) with musculoskeletal system health status, and assess the impact of a stress management intervention..The intervention group will be trained to apply two evidence based stress management techniques and they will be guided with tips and advice about musculoskeletal health.

Impact of the intervention upon measured stress related markers will be assessed.

Full description

The goal of this non-pharmacological randomized interventional study is to investigate work-related stress in relation to the musculoskeletal health of employees.

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate if stress management interventions in employees can improve self-reported musculoskeletal health problems or Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS), in relation with biomarkers of stress.

Secondary outcomes will include quality of life improvement and the number of absences from work, due to musculoskeletal conditions.

The main question aims to answer if specific stress management techniques can improve the self-reported musculoskeletal health of employees.

Researchers will compare the results between two groups (one participating in the the six (6) week program and the other not participating) to measure the effect size in the intervention group and between groups.

Participants from both groups will be measured twice (on week 1 and week 8) with the same self-report questionnaires and stress biomarkers, if possible. Especially for the intervention group a six-week stress management program will be applied. This will include the participation in one and a half hour consultation meetings about stress, musculoskeletal health, psychosocial work-related factors, and how to improve well-being and work/life satisfaction.

Enrollment: 57 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 19+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Writing and reading greek.
• Consent to provide their medical history.
• Consent to be measured with electronic devices.

Exclusion criteria

• Employees who are close to retirement (at least 2 years before) and those for whom any known factor may prevent them from completing the intervention (eg travel, transfer).
• Pregnancy.
• Pacemaker, history of seizures.
• Diagnosed musculoskeletal injury.
• Diagnosed diseases such as: osteoarthritis, autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc.), stroke, myocardial infarction, malignant neoplasms, psychiatric disease, disability.
• Systematic reception of cortisone and anti-inflammatory treatment, up to at least three months before the intervention.
• Drugs or substances.
• Participation in another interventional program of musculoskeletal rehabilitation, physical therapy, stress management or health promotion.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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57 participants in 2 patient groups

Stress Managemenet Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will be instructed and trained with two stress management techniques (Diaphragmatic Breathing- DB and Progressive Muscle Relaxation-PMR), along with biofeedback training in diaphragmatic breathing. During the eight weeks of the program, participants in the intervention group will receive information regarding stress, work-related stress factors, musculoskeletal health and disorders, the Medically Unexplained Symptoms-MUS, occupational psychosocial hazards, lifestyle habits (healthy diet, sedentary life, sleep, hygiene). Moreover, participants will be informed about how to manage stress related factors at the workplace, and its symptoms, through lifestyle modifications along with ergonomic guidance at work and in relation with their musculoskeletal health, the psychosocial hazards at work and their body response to work-related stress.

Treatment:

Other: Diaphragmatic breathing (DF)

Other: Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)

Control Group-CG

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants will receive only information regarding ergonomic practices and tips able to be appilied at the workplace.