The Effect of Ergonomics and Exercise Training on Musculoskeletal Disorders in Female Dairy Farmers
September 7, 2026 updated by: Doç.Dr.Ömer Şevgin, Uskudar University
The Effect of Ergonomics and Exercise Training on Musculoskeletal Disorders in Female Dairy Farmers: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The aim of this research is to comparatively examine the effects of ergonomics training and the combined application of ergonomics and structured exercise training on work-related musculoskeletal disorders in female farmers actively engaged in milking.
Study Overview
Status
Completed
Conditions
Detailed Description
The study will assign female farmers actively engaged in milking to two groups using a simple randomization method: a control group (ergonomics training) and an experimental group (ergonomics and exercise training).
The control group will receive standard ergonomics training aimed at reducing ergonomic risk factors encountered during milking.
The experimental group will receive the same ergonomics training as the control group, plus a structured exercise program consisting of stretching, strengthening, and posture exercises.
The exercise program will be planned based on progressive loading principles, muscle group-specific exercise selection, set-repetition arrangement, and standardization of rest intervals.
The intervention period is 12 weeks, with exercises performed 3 days a week.
All participants will be evaluated before and after the intervention using the Visual Analog Scale, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Short Form, all within the same assessment protocol.
Study Type
Interventional
Enrollment (Actual)
50
Phase
- Not Applicable
Contacts and Locations
This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.
Study Locations
-
-
-
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
- Tatvan
-
-
Participation Criteria
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
- Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Description
Inclusion Criteria
- Female sex
- Age 25-60 years
- Actively engaged in dairy milking for at least 5 years
- Sufficient physical capacity to participate in the education and exercise programme
- Provision of written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
- Any diagnosed concomitant musculoskeletal or rheumatological disease affecting any body region, including diagnosed wrist/hand conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinopathy
- Any concomitant neurological disease or neurological dysfunction
- History of surgery involving the musculoskeletal system
- Any serious systemic disease that would preclude participation
Study Plan
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Treatment
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: Single
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
Active Comparator: Ergonomics Training
Participants receive three individual face-to-face ergonomics training sessions of approximately 60 minutes each at baseline and at the end of weeks 4 and 8. Training addresses appropriate body mechanics, working posture during milking, stool and equipment positioning, load handling, work-rest organization, wrist positioning and musculoskeletal protection.
Participants also receive an illustrated brochure and telephone contact every two weeks.
|
The control group will be given standard ergonomics training which includes proper body mechanics, correct working posture and musculoskeletal protection principles during milking.
|
|
Experimental: Ergonomics Training Plus Structured Exercise
Participants receive the same ergonomics training as the control group plus a 12-week home-based, equipment-free structured exercise programme performed three non-consecutive days per week.
Each session lasts approximately 45-50 minutes and includes warm-up, stretching, postural and scapular control exercises, and progressive calisthenic strengthening exercises.
|
The control group will be given standard ergonomics training which includes proper body mechanics, correct working posture and musculoskeletal protection principles during milking.
The exercise group will receive the same ergonomics training as well as a structured exercise program consisting of stretching, strengthening and posture exercises.
The exercise program will be planned to last three days a week for a total of 12 weeks.
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Change in Work-Related Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity Assessed With the Visual Analogue Scale
Time Frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 12)
|
Pain intensity is assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates unbearable pain.
Participants rate their overall work-related musculoskeletal pain considering the neck, shoulders, and lower back.
Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
|
Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 12)
|
Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Change in Upper-Limb Functional Disability Assessed With the QuickDASH
Time Frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 12)
|
The QuickDASH is an 11-item questionnaire scored from 0 to 100.
Higher scores indicate greater upper-limb disability.
|
Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 12)
|
|
Change in Depressive Symptoms Assessed With the Beck Depression Inventory
Time Frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 12)
|
Depressive symptoms are assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory.
Higher total scores indicate greater depressive symptom severity.
|
Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 12)
|
|
Change in Quality of Life Assessed With the WHOQOL-BREF
Time Frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 12)
|
Quality of life is assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF.
The physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment domains are scored and transformed to a 4-20 scale.
Higher scores indicate better quality of life.
|
Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 12)
|
|
Musculoskeletal Symptom Prevalence Assessed With the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire
Time Frame: Baseline (12-month recall) and week 12 (7-day recall)
|
The Standardised Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire assesses musculoskeletal symptoms in nine body regions: neck, shoulders, upper back, elbows, wrists/hands, lower back, hips/thighs, knees, and ankles/feet.
At baseline, the 12-month recall section is used; at week 12, the 7-day recall section is used.
Results are reported descriptively because the recall periods differ between assessments.
|
Baseline (12-month recall) and week 12 (7-day recall)
|
Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
Sponsor
Investigators
- Study Chair: Muharrem AKAR, Uskudar University
Publications and helpful links
The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.
General Publications
- Akbar KA, Try P, Viwattanakulvanid P, Kallawicha K. Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Farmers in the Southeast Asia Region: A Systematic Review. Saf Health Work. 2023 Sep;14(3):243-249. doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2023.05.001. Epub 2023 May 13.
- Das B. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in agriculture: Ergonomics risk assessment and its prevention among Indian farmers. Work. 2023;76(1):225-241. doi: 10.3233/WOR-220246.
- Kaewdok T, Sirisawasd S, Taptagaporn S. Agricultural Risk Factors Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Older Farmers in Pathum Thani Province, Thailand. J Agromedicine. 2021 Apr;26(2):185-192. doi: 10.1080/1059924X.2020.1795029. Epub 2020 Jul 31.
Study record dates
These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Actual)
March 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Actual)
June 10, 2026
Study Completion (Actual)
July 20, 2026
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
February 25, 2026
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
February 25, 2026
First Posted (Actual)
March 2, 2026
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
September 9, 2026
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
September 7, 2026
Last Verified
September 1, 2026
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- Uskudar94
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
This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.