Evaluating Short-Term Musculoskeletal Pain Changes in Desk-Based Workers Receiving a Workplace Sitting-Reduction Intervention

Charlotte L. Brakenridge, Yee Ying Chong, Elisabeth A.H. Winkler, Nyssa T. Hadgraft, Brianna S. Fjeldsoe, Venerina Johnston, Leon M. Straker, Genevieve N. Healy and Bronwyn K. Clark
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Charlotte L. Brakenridge: School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
Yee Ying Chong: School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
Elisabeth A.H. Winkler: School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
Nyssa T. Hadgraft: School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
Brianna S. Fjeldsoe: School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
Venerina Johnston: RECOVER Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
Leon M. Straker: School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
Genevieve N. Healy: School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
Bronwyn K. Clark: School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-12

Abstract: This paper explores changes in musculoskeletal pain among desk-based workers over three months of a workplace-delivered, sitting-reduction intervention. Participants ( n = 153, 46% female; mean ± SD aged 38.9 ± 8.0 years) were cluster-randomized ( n = 18 work teams) to receive an organizational change intervention, with or without an activity tracker. A modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire assessed pain intensity (0–9; none–worst possible) in the neck, upper and lower back, upper and lower extremities, and in total. The activPAL3 (7 days, 24 h/day protocol) measured sitting and prolonged sitting in ≥30 min bouts at work. Mixed models adjusting for cluster and intervention arm examined changes in pain ( n = 104), and their associations with reductions in sitting and prolonged sitting (h/10 h at work) ( n = 90). Changes in pain were nonsignificant ( p ≥ 0.05) and small for total pain (−0.06 [95% CI: −0.27, 0.16]) and for each body area (−0.26 [−0.66, 0.15] for upper back to 0.09 [−0.39, 0.56] for lower back). Sitting reduction was associated with reduced lower back pain (−0.84 [−1.44, −0.25] per hour, p = 0.005); other effects were small and non-significant. No substantial average changes in pain were seen; some improvement in lower back pain might be expected with larger sitting reductions. Larger samples and diverse interventions are required for more definitive evidence.

Keywords: office workers; workplace; sitting; sedentary behaviour; musculoskeletal discomfort; musculoskeletal pain; low back pain; trial; activity monitor (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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