Multifaceted Physioterapeutic Intervention at Workplace

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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BACKGROUND: Individual approaches at the workplace might not be sufficient to control Work Related Musculoskeletal Diseases (WMSDs) since they are multifactorial and refractory cases might need an additional rehabilitation program. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate multifaceted intervention efficacy to manage the WMSDs. METHODS: A Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire was applied pre and post intervention to determine the efficacy of a multifaceted program, including ergonomics, exercise program and acupuncture/physical therapy exercises orientation at the workplace in 126 workers of a hearing-aid industry. Additionally, a self-perception survey (Likert scale) concerning absenteeism, quality of life and work ability helped to evaluate the program that lasts one year and ten months.

Detailed Description
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The work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have substantially increased worldwide from the 1980s In Brazil, MSDs are the leading cause of occupational diseases. The harm to society is enormous and justifies the study of methods to prevent them and / or reduce them. Many authors have evaluated isolated approaches to manage the problem, but as this is usually multifactorial, a set of interventions could bring better results. Physiotherapy is a specialty that works to improve working conditions through ergonomic interventions, physical therapy treatments and gymnastics and thus contributes to prevention and treatment of these disorders. The objective of this study is: to determine the effect of this set of interventions on the quality of life of workers and the productivity of a company that has been evaluated in a previous study to this. The study population will consist of 185 employees of a multinational company that manufactures and sells hearing aids in Brazil. Of those, 126 made up the experimental group (headquarter) and 59 control group (subsidiaries). Two questionnaires, one on musculoskeletal symptoms and another on risk factors at work are applied. An ergonomic evaluation of activities and tasks will be held, which will assist the diagnosis of situations which may be modified by ergonomic measures. Management of pre-existing complaints by acupuncture and orientation of specific exercises are used. The program's effectiveness analysis will be done by two methods: a questionnaire assessing the perception of workers about the their quality of life at work and the number of musculoskeletal complaints pre and post-intervention.

Official Title
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How a Multifaceted Physioterapeutic Intervention Can Manage Musculoskeletal Disorders in a Hearing Aid Industry

Conditions
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Musculoskeletal Pain, Quality of Life

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: physical therapy at work


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: must work in the industry for at least one year Exclusion Criteria: workplace of the study is not the main one
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: control group<br>control group only filled up the questionnaires. They didn't receive intervention | |
| Experimental: intervention group<br>physical therapy at work | Behavioral: physical therapy at work<br>* gymnastcis, exercise orientation, ergonomics, acupuncture at work setting<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| musculoskeletal disorders in different parts of the body in terms of presence, duration and frequence of the symptom | Nordic Musculoskeletal Symptoms Questtionaire was used pre and post intervention | 22 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| quality of life at work answered in a self perception Likert scale questionnaire | The questionnaire is about abseenteism, stress, MSDs and others | 22 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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ergonomics, multifaceted intervention, industry, physiotherapy, physical exercises, workplace, acupuncture, work, quality of life, absenteeism, efficiency, musculoskeletal pain, WMSD