Exercise Intervention for Employees of the University of Bern

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Presenteeism; Neck Pain; Exercise Therapy; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Occupational Health; Efficiency; Work Performance
• Interventions: Other: Exercise intervention

• Registration Number: NCT05676528
• Lead Sponsor: University of Bern

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.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2022-10-01
• Study First Submitted: 2022-12-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-01-04
• Study First Posted: 2023-01-09
• Primary Completion: 2023-01-31
• Study Completion: 2023-01-31
• Status Verified: 2023-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-03-07
• Last Update Posted: 2023-03-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 24

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.

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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).

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intervention	Exercise intervention	Exercise intervention

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Work performance	6 weeks	Change in work performance from baseline. Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (i.e., work productivity loss). Min = 0, Max = 100. Higher score means worse (higher work productivity loss).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Intensity of neck pain	Over the period of 6 weeks	Change in neck pain from baseline. Numeric Rating Scale. Min = 0, Max = 10. Higher score means worse.
Intensity of back pain	Over the period of 6 weeks	Change in back pain from baseline. Numeric Rating Scale. Min = 0, Max = 10. Higher score means worse.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Bern, Faculty of Human Sciences, Institute of Psychology; 🇨🇭 Bern, Switzerland