Clinical trial NCT00783562: Preventive Intervention in Nursery School Teachers
Official title: Effectiveness of an Extension-Oriented Exercise Program in Preventing Neck and Low Back Complaints in Nursery School Teachers
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE1
Conditions: Low Back Pain
Neck Pain
Keywords: Low back pain
Neck pain
Functional disability
Nursery school teachers
Exercise program
Prevention
Lead sponsor: University of Bologna
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2008-10-31
Enrollment: 71
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 70
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: Childcare in nursery schools has been shown to be associated with an elevated prevalence of neck, shoulder, arm and low back disorders. The current evidence suggests that exercises seem to be the only effective preventive intervention. Thus the purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of an extension-oriented exercise program in preventing low back/neck pain and functional disability in nursery school teachers. In addition, the investigators also sought to identify the occurrence of musculoskeletal complaints in this category of workers.

Detailed description: Seventy-one nursery school teachers working in nine school buildings were randomly divided into two groups, with each school as a unit of randomization. All the teachers in both groups received an ergonomic brochure; teachers in the experimental group also received an extension-oriented exercise program, conducted by a physical therapist. Data were collected at baseline and at a two-month follow-up. The primary outcome measure recorded was the level of disability (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire and Oswestry Disability Index), while secondary outcome measures included LBP and neck pain presence (Pain Drawing) and intensity (Visual Analogue Scale). At follow-up, a significant improvement was registered in the experimental group for all the outcomes evaluated. In conclusion a six-session extension-oriented exercise program proved decisive in preventing low back and neck complaints and in reducing consequent LBP functional disability among nursery school teachers.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

The study population was composed by all the 71 nursery school teachers, employed at the town hall of Forlì, that worked in nine different school buildings similar in size and furniture. As provided for by the Italian law (Emilia-Romagna Regional Law No. 1 of January 10, 2000 - art. 32, followed by the Directive of July 25, 2001), teachers had the same working schedule and the same workload in terms of teacher/children ratio depending on children age.

Exclusion Criteria:

* medical history of serious injury
* spinal surgery
* malignant pathology

Primary outcomes:
measure: Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire and Oswestry Disability Index
timeFrame: Baseline, 2 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Pain Drawing and Visual Analogue Scale
timeFrame: Baseline, 2 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Bologna
country: Italy
facility: University of Bologna
state: Emilia-Romagna
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Bologna
name: Paolo Pillastrini, MSc
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Browder DA, Childs JD, Cleland JA, Fritz JM. Effectiveness of an extension-oriented treatment approach in a subgroup of subjects with low back pain: a randomized clinical trial. Phys Ther. 2007 Dec;87(12):1608-18; discussion 1577-9. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20060297. Epub 2007 Sep 25.
citation: Grant KA, Habes DJ, Tepper AL. Work activities and musculoskeletal complaints among preschool workers. Appl Ergon. 1995 Dec;26(6):405-10. doi: 10.1016/0003-6870(95)00057-7.
citation: Brown MZ, Gerberich SG. Disabling injuries to childcare workers in Minnesota, 1985 to 1990. An analysis of potential risk factors. J Occup Med. 1993 Dec;35(12):1236-43.