Effects of a 12 week self-managed stretching program among Korean-Chinese female migrant workers in Korea: a randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a 12 week, self-managed, community-based stretching program on musculoskeletal fitness, musculoskeletal symptoms, and acculturative stress, in Korean-Chinese female migrant workers in Korea.


METHODS
This was a randomized controlled trial with random assignment of eligible full-time Korean-Chinese female migrant workers to a stretching exercise intervention (n=40) or an enhanced stretching exercise intervention (n=40) condition. Both conditions received a 6 min stretching exercise program that included an orientation and three work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) educational classes. Between educational classes, the enhanced stretching exercise condition also received mobile phone text messaging and telephone counseling to increase self-efficacy (confidence in overcoming barriers) and provide social support. Flexibility, muscle strength, musculoskeletal symptoms, and acculturative stress were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks.


RESULTS
Significant increase in flexibility was noted for both conditions, but acculturative stress was significantly reduced only in the standard intervention condition. Muscle strength and WMSD symptoms had no significant changes at the 12 week follow up in both conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
The 12 week, self-managed, community-based, stretching exercise program was effective to increase flexibility. The standard stretching intervention without any enhancements may be a more cost-effective way to increase flexibility. Longitudinal studies, however, are needed to see if the long-term effects are greater in the enhanced intervention for the migrant worker population.
Department of Nursing Environments and Systems, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
Hyeonkyeong
H
Lee
Duckhee
D
Chae
JoEllen
J
Wilbur
Arlene
A
Miller
Kyongeun
K
Lee
Hwaeun
H
Jin
D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012648:Self Care; D014171:Transients and Migrants
acculturative stress; migrant; musculoskeletal symptoms; stretching