Decrease in musculoskeletal pain after 4 and 12 months of an aerobic exercise intervention: a worksite RCT among...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Exercise Physiology
• Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background:

• High prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in physically demanding occupations.
• Aerobic exercise interventions, primarily for cardiovascular health, were assessed for long-term musculoskeletal pain side effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of aerobic exercise on musculoskeletal pain levels.
• To compare pain changes from baseline to 4- and 12-month follow-ups.

Main Methods:

• Cluster-randomized trial involving 116 cleaners (aged 18-65).
• Intervention group: worksite aerobic exercise (30 min twice weekly).
• Reference group: health promotion lectures. Pain assessed in 8 body regions using a 0-10 scale; analyzed with mixed-models.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in neck, shoulder, arm/wrist pain intensity at 12 months in the aerobic exercise group compared to the reference group.
• A tendency towards increased knee pain and a significant increase in hip pain at 4 months were observed.
• Clinically significant reductions (>30%) in upper extremity pain were noted.

Conclusions:

• Aerobic exercise effectively reduces musculoskeletal pain in the upper extremities.
• Potential unintended side effect: increased pain in the lower extremities (hips, knees).
• Exercise interventions for standing/walking workers should be tailored to maintain benefits while mitigating risks.