Exercise and Health Education for Musculoskeletal Health in Industrial Workers

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Health Education: One face-to-face health education session covering pain and coping/self-efficacy strategies, strength exercise, aerobic exercise, mobility, active breaks, sleep hygiene and healthy habits, stress management and emotional well-being, adherence and motivation, and a final discussion and review.

Tailored Exercise Programme: Participants will receive the same face-to-face health education session as the reference group, covering pain and coping/self-efficacy strategies, strength and aerobic exercise, mobility, active breaks, sleep hygiene and healthy habits, stress management and emotional well-being, adherence and motivation. In addition, participants will complete a tailored exercise programme consisting of 8 supervised face-to-face exercise sessions and 8 asynchronous home-based exercise session, corresponding to one face-to-face and one home-based session per week. Exercises will focus on general mobility and stability of the neck, wrist/hand, shoulder and thoracolumbar spine, as well as strengthening of the upper and lower limbs. Exercise difficulty and repetitions may be individually adapted according to each participant's response, perceived difficulty and tolerance. The home-based session will be delivered asynchronously through the RehBody digital platform.

Study summary

This prospective, non-randomised interventional study aims to assess changes in musculoskeletal health, pain and physical activity among industrial workers following a health education and exercise programme adapted to their baseline musculoskeletal profile.

Workers from production lines 8 and 9 at Profand Zaragoza will be allocated to one of two groups according to their baseline musculoskeletal symptoms, assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. The reference group will receive a health education session, while workers with a higher baseline musculoskeletal burden will receive the same health education session together with a specific exercise programme consisting of supervised face-to-face and asynchronous home-based sessions.

The primary outcome is perceived pain intensity measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Secondary outcomes include musculoskeletal symptoms and physical activity. In the specific intervention group, health-related quality of life and physical function will also be assessed. Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, after the intervention and at three-month follow-up. Changes over time will be analysed separately within each group.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Change in pain intensity assessed with the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) — Baseline, immediately after completion of the intervention period, and 3 months after the post-intervention assessment
  Perceived general pain intensity will be assessed using an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst pain imaginable. Changes from baseline will be assessed after the intervention and at follow-up.

Trial sites (1)

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