Clinical trial NCT05676528: Exercise Intervention for Employees of the University of Bern
Official title: Kurzbewegungsintervention für Mitarbeitende Der Universität Bern
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Neck Pain
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Occupational Health
Efficiency
Exercise Therapy
Work Performance
Presenteeism
Lead sponsor: University of Bern
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-01-09
Enrollment: 24
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: As part of a Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF project (On-site multi-component intervention to improve productivity and reduce the economic and personal burden of neck pain in Swiss Office-Workers, NEXpro = Neck EXercises for productivity, SNSF no. 32003B_182389, BASEC no. 2019-01678), the investigators first developed a physiotherapeutic exercise intervention to improve the strength and mobility of the neck muscles. In the SNSF project NEXpro, the intervention took place on-site in the office. However, in view of the digital transformation, it is important to adapt the intervention delivery method to the new virtual work setting. The aims of the present project are therefore to implement, further develop and contextually adapt the exercise intervention in order to reduce musculoskeletal complaints and to reduce health-related presenteeism. The final product is a user-friendly virtual 6-week short exercise intervention that employees of the University of Bern can use independently, regardless of time and place. The effectiveness of the newly developed short exercise intervention (pain reduction, reduction of presenteeism) will be assessed during a short pilot phase.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Employees of the Faculty of Human Sciences of the University of Bern who
* suffer from neck pain or would like to prevent neck pain
* are between 18 and 65 years of age
* understand German (written and oral)
* have a predominantly sedentary job
* have given written consent to participate in the study.

Note: Neither gender, age, education nor group affiliation play a role. The investigators particularly welcome participation from mid-level employees. If students are willing to participate, they may also do so, but this group will not be actively recruited.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Existing severe neck pain grade IV (neck trauma, neck injury, specific pathologies (e.g. congenital cervical anomalies, stenosis, radiculopathy), inflammatory conditions (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), history of cervical surgery)
* If physical activity is contraindicated by the doctor for any reason (e.g. due to unresolved hypertension).

Primary outcomes:
measure: Work performance
timeFrame: 6 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Intensity of neck pain
timeFrame: Over the period of 6 weeks
measure: Intensity of back pain
timeFrame: Over the period of 6 weeks
Other outcomes:
measure: Level of physical activity
timeFrame: Over the period of 6 weeks
measure: Sleep quality
timeFrame: Over the period of 6 weeks
measure: Work breaks
timeFrame: Over the period of 6 weeks
measure: General health status
timeFrame: Over the period of 6 weeks
measure: Mental health status
timeFrame: Over the period of 6 weeks
measure: Flexibility
timeFrame: Over the period of 6 weeks
measure: Adherence to exercise 1
timeFrame: Over the period of 6 weeks
measure: Adherence to exercise 2
timeFrame: Over the period of 6 weeks
Locations:
city: Bern
country: Switzerland
facility: University of Bern, Faculty of Human Sciences, Institute of Psychology
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Bern
name: Achim Elfering, Prof
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: