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

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

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Musculoskeletal Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Exercise Without Rest Break; Other: Exercise With Rest Break; Other: Rest Break

Detailed 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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 42
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab
    • Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan
      • Foundation University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 25 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Exercise Without Rest Breaks	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.
Experimental: Exercise With Rest Break	Other: 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.
Experimental: Rest Break	Other: 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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
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
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

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Tarwaka P, Bakri LS. Ergonomi Industri Dasar-dasar pengetahuan ergonomi dan aplikasi di tempat kerja. Surakarta: Harapan Press; 2010.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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. doi: 10.1519/R-13853.1.
• 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. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2004.03.012.
• 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.
• Hou JY, Shiao JS. Risk factors for musculoskeletal discomfort in nurses. J Nurs Res. 2006 Sep;14(3):228-36. doi: 10.1097/01.jnr.0000387581.04716.56.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 14, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 15, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): July 10, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 20, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 20, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): April 23, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 20, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 19, 2021
• Last Verified: July 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pain; Musculoskeletal; Workstation; Rest break
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: REC/00858 Anam Rehman

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No