A PREVENTIVE PROGRAM FOR SURGEONS WORK- RELATED MUSCOLOSKELETAL DISORDERS: OUTCOMES OF A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL

UMIN ID: UMIN000028557

Registered date:06/08/2017

Basic Information

• Recruitment status: Complete: follow-up complete
• Health condition(s) or Problem(s) studied: Work-related muscoloskeletal disorders
• Date of first enrollment: 2015/02/01
• Target sample size: 70
• Countries of recruitment: Europe
• Study type: Interventional

Intervention(s)

The intervention group, properly informed during dedicated meetings or individually, have become aware of possible problems and risk factors related to the work. In addition, the physical therapist educated the surgeons about the ergonomic guideline and the specific exercises to perform before and after the surgical procedures. The ergonomic principles have been taken up from the recent literature and other guidelines. These included the correct monitor and table position, use of foot pedal, placing of the equipe, lead apron, antifatigue mats, footwear, footrests, sit/stand stool and other considerations. The standardized auto-treatment exercises mainly targeted the neck, shoulders, upper and lower back which are the most common areas affected. The muscles involved in the preventive program were: neck extensors, flexors, and rotators, shoulder and trunk flexors, trunk extensors, inclinators and rotators. For every group of muscle, a protocol has been created. The first phase consisted of no-resistance active exercises useful to prepare the area while the second phase included static stretching. The final position of stretching was to be maintained for at least 20 seconds so that we can reduce the discomfort and stress caused by the awkward and prolonged posture taken in the OR. A dedicated physical therapist initially followed every surgical team in order to teach the exercises and to improve the ergonomic principles. A booklet was also created to allow the surgeon to manage and practice the program independently.
The control group regularly continued theurgical activity without any type of educational, physical or medical intervention.

Outcome(s)

• Primary Outcome: To find any difference in work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD)severity between the two groups after 3 and 6 months from the beginning of the program. The WRMSD severity is evaluated using the following validated questionnaires and scales: Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnarie (NMQ), the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), performed at the beginning ppf the trial, at 3 and 6 months
• Secondary Outcome: To assess the course of symptoms, the assumption of drugs, the patients satisfaction and the quality of life, and also the compliance using ad hoc questionnaire.

Key inclusion & exclusion criteria

• Age minimum: 25years-old
• Age maximum: 75years-old
• Gender: Male and Female
• Exclude criteria: symptoms associated with a previous self-surgery, history of trauma, inflammatory diseases.

Related Information

• Primary Sponsor: Rehabilitation Institute San Raffaele Arcangelo (Venezia) Italy
• Source(s) of Monetary Support: University of Padua -Italy