Posture Exercises and Ergonomics Education

March 17, 2026 updated by: Tuğçe Poyraz İşleyen, Bahçeşehir University

Effect of Posture Exercises and Ergonomics Education on Office Workers

The goal of this observational study is to learn if a combination of postural exercise programs and ergonomics education can provide protective and therapeutic effects against work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in academic and administrative office staff at Bahçeşehir University (aged 20-55, working at least 3 months in an office setting). The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does a 6-week program of ergonomics training and regular posture exercises reduce the frequency and severity of musculoskeletal pain? Can structured ergonomics education improve the alignment of the office environment with international safety standards (OSHA)? Is there a measurable improvement in the sleep quality of office workers following these interventions?

Researchers will compare the pre-intervention baseline data to post-intervention results (after 6 weeks) to see if the interventions lead to a statistically significant reduction in physical discomfort and an increase in ergonomic compliance.

Participants will:

Undergo a comprehensive baseline assessment, including the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire, New York Posture Analysis, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Attend a one-day intensive training program covering both theoretical ergonomics and practical postural exercises.

Receive an instructional brochure with a QR code providing access to exercise videos.Perform the prescribed ergonomic adjustments and exercises during workdays for a duration of 6 weeks.Complete a follow-up assessment after 6 weeks to evaluate changes in pain levels, posture, and environmental compliance.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study aims to investigate the effects of a combined ergonomics education and postural exercise program on work-related musculoskeletal disorders among academic and administrative office workers.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are highly prevalent among office-based employees due to prolonged sitting, poor posture, and inadequate ergonomic conditions. These factors contribute not only to physical discomfort and pain but also to reduced productivity and overall well-being. In addition, emerging evidence suggests a relationship between musculoskeletal complaints and sleep quality.

In this study, participants will undergo baseline assessments to evaluate musculoskeletal discomfort, postural alignment, sleep quality, and ergonomic risk exposure in the workplace. Following these assessments, all participants will attend a structured training session that integrates theoretical ergonomics education with practical instruction on posture correction exercises and workstation adjustments.

The intervention is designed to promote behavioral change by increasing awareness of ergonomic risk factors and encouraging the adoption of healthier postural habits during daily work activities. Supporting materials, including visual and digital resources, will be provided to facilitate adherence to the recommended exercises and ergonomic modifications.

Participants will be instructed to apply ergonomic principles and perform the prescribed exercises regularly during their working hours over a 6-week period. No control group will be included, and outcomes will be evaluated using a within-subject comparison approach.

At the end of the intervention period, follow-up assessments will be conducted to determine changes in musculoskeletal symptoms, posture, sleep quality, and ergonomic compliance. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the development of preventive and practical workplace interventions aimed at reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders in office environments.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

25

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 Contact

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:

  • Aged 20-55, currently employed as an office worker for at least 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Congenital or acquired musculoskeletal disabilities, systemic diseases contraindicating exercise, pregnancy, chronic neurological/cardiovascular conditions, or regular exercise participation within the last 6 months.

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: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: posture exercises and ergonomic education

Following baseline assessments, participants attended a one-day intensive training program. The curriculum integrated:

Theoretical Education: Principles of office ergonomics and risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs).

Practical Training: Guided sessions on postural exercises and ergonomic workstation adjustments.

Support Materials: Participants received a brochure summarizing the training. A QR code was provided for mobile access to instructional exercise videos.

Participants were instructed to implement the ergonomic modifications and perform the exercises daily during work hours for a period of 6 weeks.
Behavioral: Exercise

Digitalized Continuity via QR Code Technology: To bridge the gap between training and daily habit formation, the intervention utilizes custom-designed brochures embedded with QR codes. These link directly to high-quality video demonstrations, allowing participants to access professional guidance at their workstations in real-time, thereby reducing the "forgetting curve" typical of one-time trainings.

Specific Academic/Administrative Context: While many ergonomics studies focus on industrial workers, this study specifically targets the unique stressors of a university setting (e.g., prolonged periods of intense cognitive load combined with static computer use among high-level education professionals).

Comprehensive Outcome Mapping: The study is unique in its holistic evaluation, correlating physical posture (NYPA) and musculoskeletal pain (CMDQ) with environmental compliance (OSHA) and physiological recovery markers (PSQI Sleep Quality), offering a 360-degree view of the office worker

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ)
Time Frame: Baseline and post-intervention (6 weeks)
CMDQ was developed by Alan Hedge and colleagues at Cornell University to evaluate the frequency, severity, and functional impact of discomfort across 11 body regions (Hedge et al., 1999). Scoring involves a weighted calculation where frequency, severity, and interference values are multiplied to produce a total score (0-90). The Turkish validity and reliability of the scale were established by Erdinç (2011).
Baseline and post-intervention (6 weeks)
New York Posture Analysis (NYPA)
Time Frame: Baseline and post-intervention (6 weeks)
NYPA is an observational tool used to grade postural alignment in 13 body segments (McRoberts et al., 2013). Each segment is scored 1, 3, or 5, with total scores ranging from 13 to 65. It provides a standardized categorization from "Very Poor" to "Very Good."
Baseline and post-intervention (6 weeks)
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time Frame: Baseline and post-intervention (6 weeks)
The PSQI measures subjective sleep quality over a one-month interval through seven sub-dimensions (Buysse et al., 1989). The total score (0-21) distinguishes between "good" and "poor" sleepers. The Turkish version's psychometric properties were validated by Agargun et al. (1996).
Baseline and post-intervention (6 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
OSHA Computer Workstation Ergonomics Evaluation Checklist
Time Frame: Baseline and post-intervention (6 weeks)
This 24-item tool evaluates the ergonomic suitability of the work environment across six dimensions, including seating and monitor placement (OSHA, 1992). Higher scores indicate superior ergonomic compliance. The Turkish validity study was conducted by Erdoğan (2007).
Baseline and post-intervention (6 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Bahçeşehir 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

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 (Estimated)

April 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 13, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 19, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 17, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2023-20/08

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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.

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