title: Tailored exercise program reduces symptoms of upper limb work-related musculoskeletal disorders in a group of metalworkers: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) are a leading cause of work-related disability and loss of productivity in the developed countries; these disorders may concur with the indirect costs of an illness or injury included losses of potential output. Literature on workplace physical activity program provided a mixed but positive impact on health and important worksite outcomes. Therefore, programs of physical activity organized and performed in the workplace could reveal as essential tool to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms. This investigation aimed to assess the effectiveness of a tailored physical activity program, performed in a work-environment, to reduce the symptoms in upper extremities and neck with the novelty in personalizing the approach applied to the exercise protocol, basing on pain and disability levels, to reduce the onset and symptoms in upper extremity and neck WRMDs increasing upper-limb strength and flexibility. 68 metalworkers were recruited, 34 were randomly allocated to an intervention group (IG), while the other 34 to a control group. Primary outcomes concerned pain symptoms measured with visual analog scales while disability was measured by DASH (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand), and NPDS-I (Neck Pain and Disability Scale) questionnaires. Grip strength, upper-limb mobility, neck and shoulder range of motion were also assessed. After the 9-month intervention, IG reduced pain symptoms on neck, shoulders, elbows and on wrists. Grip strength and upper-limb mobility improved as well as scores on questionnaires. This protocol suggests that performing a tailored physical activity program is beneficial to reduce pain and disability on upper-limb WRMDs.
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rasotto
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy. Electronic address: marco.bergamin@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergamin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simonetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maso
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Bartolucci
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ermolao
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaccaria
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Exercise; Metalworkers; Upper-limb; Work related musculoskeletal disorders