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

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  • Charlotte L. Brakenridge

    (School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
    RECOVER Injury Research Centre, 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
    Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia
    Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, 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
    School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, 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
    Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
    School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia)

  • Bronwyn K. Clark

    (School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Charlotte L. Brakenridge & Yee Ying Chong & Elisabeth A.H. Winkler & Nyssa T. Hadgraft & Brianna S. Fjeldsoe & Venerina Johnston & Leon M. Straker & Genevieve N. Healy & Bronwyn K. Clark, 2018. "Evaluating Short-Term Musculoskeletal Pain Changes in Desk-Based Workers Receiving a Workplace Sitting-Reduction Intervention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:9:p:1975-:d:168914
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lars L Andersen & Thomas Clausen & Hermann Burr & Andreas Holtermann, 2012. "Threshold of Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity for Increased Risk of Long-Term Sickness Absence among Female Healthcare Workers in Eldercare," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(7), pages 1-6, July.
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    1. Bradley MacDonald & Xanne Janssen & Alison Kirk & Mhairi Patience & Ann-Marie Gibson, 2018. "An Integrative, Systematic Review Exploring the Research, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance of Interventions to Reduce Sedentary Behaviour in Office Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-29, December.
    2. Abigail S. Morris & Kelly A. Mackintosh & Neville Owen & Paddy C. Dempsey & David W. Dunstan & Melitta A. McNarry, 2021. "Rise and Recharge: Exploring Employee Perceptions of and Contextual Factors Influencing an Individual-Level E-Health Smartphone Intervention to Reduce Office Workers’ Sedentary Time at Work," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-15, September.
    3. Abigail S. Morris & Kelly A. Mackintosh & David Dunstan & Neville Owen & Paddy Dempsey & Thomas Pennington & Melitta A. McNarry, 2020. "Rise and Recharge: Effects on Activity Outcomes of an e-Health Smartphone Intervention to Reduce Office Workers’ Sitting Time," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-18, December.

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