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Santos H.G.1, Dias Chiavegato L.1, Simprini Padula R.1
1University Cidade de São Paulo, Physiotherapy, São Paulo, Brazil
Background: Fatigue is a multifactorial condition that affects workers worldwide, leading to diseases and loss in productivity. Regular physical exercise is an eligible intervention strategy to reduce work-related fatigue due to its accessibility, low costs, and positive impacts.
Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two resistance exercise protocols in fatigue management for industrial workers during the work schedule.
Methods: This study consisted of a cluster randomized, assessor-blind, controlled trial, with two arms, approved by ethical committee. A total of 352 workers of both genders, aged 1865 years, from a medium-sized dairy plant were, recruited from 13 production sectors according to the eligibility criteria and randomized by clusters into Progressive Resistance Exercise (PRE) intervention group or the Compensatory Workplace Exercise (CWE) comparative group. The groups received instructions on self-management, breaks, adjustments to work stations, and the benefits of physical exercises. The PRE group performed resistance exercises with gradual load, and the CWE group performed exercises using elastic bands. The sessions were held 3 times a week for 20 minutes. The primary outcome measured the symptoms of fatigue, based on one-repetition maximum (1RM). The secondary outcome measured the level of physical activity, musculoskeletal symptoms, physical condition, perceived exposure, and productivity. The workers were assessed at baseline and after four-month program. A linear mixed model was applied to an intention-to-treat basis with significance level p 0.05.
Results: The resistance training was performed by the workers for 20 minutes, three times a week, comprising in total one hour a week, during four-month period. The primary outcomes indicated that the PRE had no better than the CWE. On the other hand, both groups improved the fatigue control (Need for Recovery Scale), and 1RM evaluation. Benefits for the participants were observed for both exercise protocols within group analysis (p 0.05). The secondary results were also significant within group analysis but intervention group was not more effective than comparative groups howing that regardless of the protocol the exercises were useful in the workplace.
Conclusion(s): The protocol with progressive load was not more effective than the protocol with constant load, regarding all the aspects evaluated. Significant effects were observed within groups, demonstrating that the practice of resistance physical exercise in the workplace is an effective way to improve the health of the employees.
Implications: Physical therapy in the workplace is essential to early identifying the fatigue development in industrial workers, contributing to the health maintenance of the workers and preventing occupational risks.
Funding acknowledgements: Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES).
Topic: Occupational health & ergonomics
Ethics approval: Research Ethics Committee (Approval Number: 454709). Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under protocol number NCT02172053.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
