Effect Of Primal Reflex Release Technique On Work Related Musculoskeletal Shoulder & Neck Pain, Working Posture, Work Performance And Quality Of Life Among Sweepers Of IAMR
Authors: Saini Harsh , Sharma Dr. Monika 
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) represent a growing concern in occupational health, particularly among individuals engaged in manual labor. Among street sweepers, the prevalence of shoulder and neck pain is especially high. Studies indicate that up to 70% of street sweepers report experiencing musculoskeletal pain, with the shoulder and neck areas being the most frequently affected.

Materials and methods: A cross sectional observational study was conducted at the Institute of Applied Medicines & Research, Duhai, Ghaziabad. The study will involve a total sample size of 30 participants, with 15 participants in the experimental group receiving PRRT along with ergonomic education and conventional exercises and 15 participants in the control group receiving ergonomic education along with conventional exercises.

Results: The data analysis reveals clear and significant differences between Group A (PRRT + Ergonomics) and Group B (Ergonomics + Exercise), with Group A consistently showing superior outcomes across all measured variables, including pain reduction, posture improvement, range of motion (ROM), quality of life, and work performance. Pain score (NPRS):In Group A, the mean pre-intervention pain score, measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), was 8, among the sweepers. The combined Primal Reflex Release Technique (PRRT) with ergonomic education and exercise, the mean pain score dropped significantly to a range of 2 to 4. This represents an average reduction of 5.5 points, highlighting a highly significant alleviation of musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and neck regions (p < 0.001).

Furthermore, the effect size (Cohen’s d > 1.2) indicates that the magnitude of the change in pain levels was not only statistically significant but also clinically meaningful.

In contrast, Group B, which received only ergonomic education and exercise, exhibited a less pronounced reduction in pain scores. The pre-intervention pain scores in this group ranged from 7 to 8, and the post-intervention scores decreased to 5 to 6, showing a modest average reduction of 1.5 points. The change, although positive, was not statistically significant (p = 0.08), indicating that while ergonomic interventions provided some relief, they were insufficient in addressing the chronic musculoskeletal pain faced by sweepers.

Discussion: The findings from this study clearly demonstrate that the Primal Reflex Release Technique (PRRT) combined with ergonomic education and exercise (Group A) yielded significantly better outcomes compared to ergonomic education and exercise alone (Group B) in addressing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), particularly in the shoulder and neck regions of sweepers. This discussion will explore the implications of these results, comparing them with previous studies and theoretical frameworks, and will examine the broader context of these findings in occupational healtIn conclusion, the study highlights the superior effectiveness of the Primal Reflex Release Technique (PRRT) combined with ergonomic education and exercise in significantly reducing pain, improving posture, enhancing range of motion, and boosting quality of life and work performance among street sweepers suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders.