Ergonomic risk assessment and evaluation of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physiotherapists
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN39646748 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN39646748 |
- Submission date
- 28/08/2023
- Registration date
- 04/09/2023
- Last edited
- 11/03/2024
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) are injuries or dysfunctions that affect the muscles, nerves, tendons, bones, joints, ligaments and other soft tissue structures including strains, sprains, and injuries to surrounding structures. Healthcare practitioners, especially physiotherapists through direct patient interaction, are among the occupations with the highest rate of WMSDs due to their occupational load bearing and body positions sustained during the day. Continuous movements in ergonomically adverse positions can lead to the development of MSDs and declined productivity. WMSDs place a substantial load on present society, not only for the reason of their occurrence but also for the expenses related to work absence as a result of such disorders. The frequency rates and missed employed days differ across various considering the discrepancy in the financial circumstances. For instance, in the United Kingdom, about 6.6 million absent on salaried days (2018), in the Netherlands around 28% (2017) and, in Germany about 21% of work nonattendance days (2018) have been reported due to WMSDs. Proper assessment tools may prevent musculoskeletal symptoms associated with ergonomic risks, and WMSDs, one such important tool is the rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) questionnaire. Research has shown that musculoskeletal pain and discomfort experienced by physiotherapists in the back, neck, shoulders, hand, and wrist is the most common. There are many factors that arise from the back that increase the risk of injury and may cause pain, increase pressure pain threshold, decreased proprioception, and decreased quality of life. The aim of this study is to evaluate the WMSDs and level of ergonomic risk using the RULA tool among physical therapists and also to find the correlation of pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, proprioception, and quality of life with RULA among physical therapists.
Who can participate?
Physiotherapists aged between 28-55 years old who are suffering from low back pain
What does the study involve?
The participants will be randomly allocated into two groups and their pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, proprioception, and quality of life will be assessed and correlated with their RULA scores.
Then the subjects in Group 2 will be provided ergonomic advice as per their group protocol and Group 2 will be provided ergonomic advice and a pilates program as per their group protocol for a period of 8 weeks. After 8 weeks all the outcome measures will be re-assessed and correlated with their RULA scores.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants will benefit from an improved overall quality of life and are expected to have other benefits like decreased levels of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and ergonomic risk which are essential for performing functional activities.
Possible risks are pain and fatigue which will be assessed and managed immediately by expert medical professionals.
Where is the study run from?
The study will be conducted at various centers and hospitals, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2023 to March 2024
Who is funding the study?
The Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University through a large group research project under grant number: RGP 2/58/44
Who is the main contact?
Venkata Nagaraj Kakaraparthi, vnraj@kku.edu.sa
Contact information
Principal Investigator
King Khalid University
Department of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences
College of Applied Medical Sciences, Gate-7
Abha
62421
Saudi Arabia
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-8145-1625 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +966172418594 |
| vnraj@kku.edu.sa |
Public
King Khalid University
Department of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences
College of Applied Medical Sciences, Gate-7
Abha
62421
Saudi Arabia
| Phone | +966172418645 |
|---|---|
| rshankar@kku.edu.sa |
Study information
| Study design | Multi-center interventional randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Workplace |
| Study type | Diagnostic, Quality of life, Treatment, Efficacy |
| Participant information sheet | 44199_PIS.pdf |
| Scientific title | Evaluation of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and the level of ergonomic risk using Rapid upper limb assessment and their correlation with pain, pressure pain thresholds, proprioception, disability, quality of life, and WORQ scores among physical therapists suffering from low back pain |
| Study hypothesis | Null hypothesis: The rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) will not assess the level of ergonomic risk in physical therapists |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 09/05/2023, Research Ethics Committee at King Khalid University (King Khalid University, Al Farah campus, Abha, 61421, Saudi Arabia; +966172418386; ecm@kku.edu.sa), ref: ECM#2023-13040 |
| Condition | Assessment of ergonomic risk and work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physiotherapists |
| Intervention | Current interventions as of 11/03/2024: The study participants with low back pain are randomly assigned into two groups using a simple randomisation method. The recruited physiotherapists will be divided into two groups. Group 1 will receive only ergonomic advice about their back care and Group 2 will receive a pilates training program, both for 5 days/week for a period of 8 weeks. The physiotherapists who provide the intervention in this study have extensive experience of more than 10 years in the field of physiotherapy and provide pilates training programs to various patients to change and improve their body strength and posture through breathing, stretching and conditioning exercises. The interventions are provided face-to-face individually at the outpatient physiotherapy departments of King Khalid University, Aseer Central Hospital, Khamis Mushait General Hospital, Armed Forces Hospital - Southern Region, and Khamis Mushait. Previous interventions: The study participants with low back pain are randomly assigned into two groups using a simple randomisation method. The recruited physiotherapists will be divided into two groups. Group 1 will receive only ergonomic advice about their back care and Group 2 will receive ergonomic advice about their back care and pilates training, both for 5 days/week for a period of 8 weeks. The physiotherapists who provide the intervention in this study have extensive experience of more than 10 years in the field of physiotherapy and provide pilates training programs to various patients to change and improve their body strength and posture through breathing, stretching and conditioning exercises. The interventions are provided face-to-face individually at the outpatient physiotherapy departments of King Khalid University, Aseer Central Hospital, Khamis Mushait General Hospital, Armed Forces Hospital - Southern Region, and Khamis Mushait. |
| Intervention type | Mixed |
| Primary outcome measure | Risk factors associated with upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder measured using rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) score at baseline and 8 weeks |
| Secondary outcome measures | Current secondary outcome measures as of 11/03/2024: The following secondary outcome measures were assessed at baseline and 8 weeks: 1. Pain intensity measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) score 2. Pain threshold measured using a pressure algometer 3. Proprioception measured using a digital inclinometer 4. ODI measured using a disability scale 5. Quality of life measured using SF-36 6. Functions after rehabilitation measured using the WORQ questionnaire Previous secondary outcome measures: The following secondary outcome measures were assessed at baseline and 8 weeks: 1. Pain intensity measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) score 2. Pain threshold measured using a pressure algometer 3. Proprioception measured using a digital inclinometer 4. ODI measured using a disability scale 5. Quality of life measured using a QOLS scale |
| Overall study start date | 21/03/2023 |
| Overall study end date | 14/03/2024 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Health professional |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 28 Years |
| Upper age limit | 55 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 113 |
| Total final enrolment | 72 |
| Participant inclusion criteria | 1. Age 28-50 years old 2. Physical therapists with an experience of at least 5 years of general health care practice 3. Subjects who will be willing to participate in the study 4. Participants scoring more than 3 on the RULA questionnaire |
| Participant exclusion criteria | 1. Any history of injury or surgery in the neck, upper and lower extremities 2. Any neurological or rheumatic diseases 3. Subjects who will be participating in elite sports or exertional activities 4. Subjects with any congenital or acquired deformities 5. Subjects with acute or chronic orthopedic conditions 6. Subjects with Vestibular impairments 7. Any other medical conditions that interfere with work 8. RULA score less than 3 |
| Recruitment start date | 09/05/2023 |
| Recruitment end date | 30/01/2024 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Saudi Arabia
Study participating centres
Abha
61421
Saudi Arabia
Abha
62523
Saudi Arabia
Khamis Mushayt
62413
Saudi Arabia
Abha
62521
Saudi Arabia
Khamis Mushayt
62457
Saudi Arabia
Sponsor information
University/education
Building-C
Guraigor
Abha
62521
Saudi Arabia
| Phone | None provided |
|---|---|
| enquiries@kku.edu.sa | |
| Website | https://www.kku.edu.sa/ |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/052kwzs30 |
Funders
Funder type
University/education
Government organisation / Research institutes and centers
- Alternative name(s)
- Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University Saudi Arabia, Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University, Deanship of Scientific Research, Scientific Research Deanship, عمادة البحث العلمي بجامعة الملك خالد, عمادة البحث العلمي
- Location
- Saudi Arabia
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 14/03/2025 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal |
| IPD sharing plan | The data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be available at a later date. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | 04/09/2023 | No | Yes | ||
| Participant information sheet | 04/09/2023 | No | Yes |
Additional files
Editorial Notes
11/03/2024: The following changes were made to the study record:
1. The scientific title was changed from 'Evaluation of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and the level of ergonomic risk using rapid upper limb assessment tool and their correlation with pain, pressure pain threshold, proprioception, and quality of life among physical therapists in Saudi Arabia' to 'Evaluation of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and the level of ergonomic risk using Rapid upper limb assessment and their correlation with pain, pressure pain thresholds, proprioception, disability, quality of life, and WORQ scores among physical therapists suffering from low back pain'.
2. The interventions and secondary outcome measures were updated.
3. Total final enrolment added.
04/09/2023: Studies existence confirmed by the Research Ethics Committee at King Khalid University (Saudi Arabia).
