Implementation of Physical Exercise at the Workplace (IRMA08) - Healthcare Workers (IRMA)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01921764 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : August 13, 2013
Last Update Posted : January 28, 2014
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The prevalence and consequences of musculoskeletal pain is considerable among healthcare workers, allegedly due to high physical work demands of healthcare work. Previous studies have shown promising results of physical exercise for relieving pain among different occupational groups, but the question remains whether such physical exercise should be performed at the workplace or in the private sphere at home. Performing physical exercise at the workplace together with colleagues may be more motivating for some employees and thus increase compliance. On the other hand, physical exercise at the workplace may be costly for the employers in terms of time spend. Thus, relevant ground exists to compare the efficacy of workplace- versus home-based training on musculoskeletal pain. This study investigates the effect of workplace-based versus home-based physical exercise on musculoskeletal pain among healthcare workers.
The main hypothesis is that physical exercise at the workplace for 10 weeks compared with physical exercise at home results in reduced musculoskeletal pain among healthcare workers.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Musculoskeletal Disorders | Behavioral: Workplace physical exercise Behavioral: Home physical exercise | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 200 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Single (Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Implementation of Physical Exercise at the Workplace (IRMA08) - Healthcare Workers |
Study Start Date : | September 2013 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | December 2013 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | January 2014 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Workplace physical exercise
Physical exercise (kettlebells, elastic bands, exercise balls) performed at the workplace with coaching
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Behavioral: Workplace physical exercise |
Active Comparator: Home physical exercise
Physical exercise performed at home with elastic bands and bodyweight exercises with instruction to follow the exercises at http://www.jobogkrop.dk/Oevelser-til-nakke-og-ryg/Oevelser
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Behavioral: Home physical exercise |
- Pain intensity [ Time Frame: change from baseline to week 10 ]The change in "pain intensity during the last week" from baseline to 10 week follow-up between the workplace- and home-training group. The home-training group will be considered the reference group. 2-way analysis of variance (Proc Mixed of SAS) with repeated measures will be used, with time and group as fixed factors and subject as random factor. Department will be added as a cluster effect.
- Muscle function [ Time Frame: change from baseline to week 10 ]
- Work ability index (WAI) [ Time Frame: change from baseline to week 10 ]
- Physical exertion during work [ Time Frame: change from baseline to week 10 ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 67 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | Female |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- healthcare worker
- female
- age 18-67
Exclusion Criteria:
- life threatening disease
- pregnancy

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01921764
Denmark | |
National Research Centre for the Working Environment | |
Copenhagen, Denmark, 2100 |
Responsible Party: | Lars L. Andersen, Professor, PhD, National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Denmark |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01921764 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
IRMA08 |
First Posted: | August 13, 2013 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | January 28, 2014 |
Last Verified: | January 2014 |
Musculoskeletal Diseases |