Mesquita C1,2, Lopes S1, Teixeira C1, Freitas W1, Santos P1
1Health School of Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Physiotherapy, Porto, Portugal, 2CIR - Center for Rehabilitation Research, Health School, Polytechnic of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Background: Musculoskeletal symptoms are associated with pain, discomfort and functional limitations. Specific exercise can improve daily life activities and well-being, resulting in better professional performance and functionality.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of following a 21-month exercise program on musculoskeletal symptoms of warehouse workers.
Methods: The study population was 557 warehouse urban male workers from a food distribution company in Porto/Portugal. Upon application of the selection criteria, 249 workers were deemed eligible, which were randomized in two groups (125 in the intervention group and 124 in the control group). All subjects completed the Portuguese version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire at baseline (M0), at 11 (M1) and at 21 (M2) months of follow-up. The exercises were executed in the company facilities once a day for eight minutes at the beginning of the working day. The data were analyzed in SPSS® 17.0 for Windows®, for a significance level of 0.05, with the application of the Mann-Whitney U test was used to verify the distribution of the symptoms between both groups in M0, the Q Cochran test to analyze the influence of the specific exercises, and the McNemar test to see when the changes occurred.
Results: The symptom with higher proportion across all points of assessment was the low back region, followed by the neck, in both groups before intervention. In the intervention group, improvements were statistically significant in the low back, in the variable “troubles in the last 12 months”, at M0/M1 (p=0.005) and M0/M2 (p=0.021); in the variable “limitations in the last 12 months”, at M0/M1 (p=0.004) and M0/M2 (p 0.001); and in the variable “troubles in the last 7 days”, at M0/M1 (p=0,017) and M0/M2 (p=0.02). In the control group there were statistically significant differences at M0/M2 (p=0.038) in the variable “troubles in the last 12 months”, although these differences resulted from increased symptoms.
Conclusion(s): It can be concluded that the implementation of a 21-month specific exercise program contributes to decreased musculoskeletal symptoms of warehouse workers in Porto/Portugal food Distribution Company.
Implications: As musculoskeletal symptomatology are a major work-related problem, with high disability and reduction of quality of life, this study suggests that with specific exercise program the symptomatology can be controlled or improved. Therefore, we suggest carrying out more studies to consider controlling subjects' tasks, resting time, eating habits and leisure and sports activities executed by subjects in non-working time.
Keywords: musculoskeletal symptoms, specific exercises, Nordic Questionnaire
Funding acknowledgements: The authors wishes to thank to the participants. No financial suport was received.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of following a 21-month exercise program on musculoskeletal symptoms of warehouse workers.
Methods: The study population was 557 warehouse urban male workers from a food distribution company in Porto/Portugal. Upon application of the selection criteria, 249 workers were deemed eligible, which were randomized in two groups (125 in the intervention group and 124 in the control group). All subjects completed the Portuguese version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire at baseline (M0), at 11 (M1) and at 21 (M2) months of follow-up. The exercises were executed in the company facilities once a day for eight minutes at the beginning of the working day. The data were analyzed in SPSS® 17.0 for Windows®, for a significance level of 0.05, with the application of the Mann-Whitney U test was used to verify the distribution of the symptoms between both groups in M0, the Q Cochran test to analyze the influence of the specific exercises, and the McNemar test to see when the changes occurred.
Results: The symptom with higher proportion across all points of assessment was the low back region, followed by the neck, in both groups before intervention. In the intervention group, improvements were statistically significant in the low back, in the variable “troubles in the last 12 months”, at M0/M1 (p=0.005) and M0/M2 (p=0.021); in the variable “limitations in the last 12 months”, at M0/M1 (p=0.004) and M0/M2 (p 0.001); and in the variable “troubles in the last 7 days”, at M0/M1 (p=0,017) and M0/M2 (p=0.02). In the control group there were statistically significant differences at M0/M2 (p=0.038) in the variable “troubles in the last 12 months”, although these differences resulted from increased symptoms.
Conclusion(s): It can be concluded that the implementation of a 21-month specific exercise program contributes to decreased musculoskeletal symptoms of warehouse workers in Porto/Portugal food Distribution Company.
Implications: As musculoskeletal symptomatology are a major work-related problem, with high disability and reduction of quality of life, this study suggests that with specific exercise program the symptomatology can be controlled or improved. Therefore, we suggest carrying out more studies to consider controlling subjects' tasks, resting time, eating habits and leisure and sports activities executed by subjects in non-working time.
Keywords: musculoskeletal symptoms, specific exercises, Nordic Questionnaire
Funding acknowledgements: The authors wishes to thank to the participants. No financial suport was received.
Topic: Occupational health & ergonomics
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Health School, Polytechnic of Porto, Portugal
Ethics committee: Ethics Committee, Health School, Polytechnic of Porto, Portugal
Ethics number: CE_PROC0003
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
