Workplace-Based Exercise Intervention Improves Work Ability in Office Workers: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Ergonomics
• Musculoskeletal Interventions

Background:

• Neck pain significantly impacts employee productivity and workplace costs.
• The efficacy of neck/shoulder strengthening exercises on office workers' work ability is not well-established.
• Combined ergonomics and exercise interventions warrant investigation for improving occupational health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a 12-week combined ergonomics and neck/shoulder strengthening exercise intervention (EET) versus a combined ergonomics and health promotion intervention (EHP) on work ability in office workers.
• To assess differences in work ability between the intervention groups in the general office worker population and a subgroup experiencing neck pain.
• To analyze intervention effects at 12 weeks and 12 months post-intervention.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 350 office workers (177 in EET, 173 in EHP).
• Work ability was measured using a single-question assessment.
• Intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol analyses (adherence ≥70%) were employed for group and time-point comparisons.
• Subgroup analysis focused on participants reporting neck pain (≥3 out of 10).

Main Results:

• No significant differences in work ability were found between the EET and EHP groups in the general population or the neck pain subgroup.
• In the per-protocol analysis for the neck pain subgroup, a significant group-by-time interaction favored the EET group at 12 weeks, with a similar trend at 12 months.
• The EET intervention demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing work ability post-intervention and potentially long-term among symptomatic participants with high adherence.

Conclusions:

• The combined ergonomics and neck/shoulder strengthening exercise intervention (EET) showed promise for improving work ability in office workers with neck pain, particularly those with high adherence.
• While not superior to the EHP intervention overall, EET demonstrated specific benefits for symptomatic individuals.
• Further research may explore long-term effects and optimal adherence levels for exercise-based occupational health interventions.