None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study will investigate the effectiveness of a 24-week workplace exercise program MedicFit) to improve work-related physical fitness and reduce musculoskeletal injury rates of NSW paramedics and assess whether greater effects are achieved with the provision of regular health coach support. In comparison to a control group who do not participate in the exercise training, it is hypothesised that paramedics undertaking the MedicFit program will improve job-related physical fitness and achieve lower injury rates over the intervention period (vs. historical data), and that additional effects will be achieved by those receiving health coach support (i.e. greater increases in physical fitness and lower injury rates).
Interventions
A randomised controlled trial investigating the effects of a 24-week workplace exercise program on physical fitness and injury rates of Australian paramedics.
The workplace exercise program "MedicFit" has been developed by NSW Ambulance as a low-intensity and low-risk program that involves the use of minimal equipment to deliver resistance and flexibility exercises to paramedics who can perform the program while at the workplace. Paramedics assigned to an intervention arm to participate in the M
A randomised controlled trial investigating the effects of a 24-week workplace exercise program on physical fitness and injury rates of Australian paramedics. The workplace exercise program "MedicFit" has been developed by NSW Ambulance as a low-intensity and low-risk program that involves the use of minimal equipment to deliver resistance and flexibility exercises to paramedics who can perform the program while at the workplace. Paramedics assigned to an intervention arm to participate in the MedicFit program will be prescribed a set of exercises to complete 3 x per week, with each session taking approximately 45 minutes. These exercises (i.e. the MedicFit program) will be delivered via Physitrack, a software-based exercise prescription tool that allows participants to view video demonstrations of their exercises and log their participation. In this way, adherence to the program will be tracked across the 24 weeks (i.e. the number of sessions completed each week). Exercises include static stretches, resistance band, body weight and free weight strength exercises. All MedicFit exercise sessions will be completed at the workplace during working hours. There are two intervention arms and one control arm, to which participants (target n=150 allowing for 40% attrition) will be randomly allocated. The two intervention arms are: Arm 1: MedicFit program plus health coach support via email, text messaging and phone. Subjects allocated this group will participate in the MedicFit exercise program in addition to receiving regular (weekly) consult/support from an NSW Ambulance health coach. Arm 2: MedicFit program: Subjects allocated this group will participate in the MedicFit exercise program without health coach support.
Sponsors
Charles Sturt University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Paramedics employed by NSW Ambulance between the ages of 18 and 65 years old; 2. Must be based at one of the stations selected to be included in the study; 3. Completed the ESSA pre-exercise screening tool and cleared to participate in exercise/fitness testing; 4. Willing to give written informed consent and willing to participate in and comply with the study.
Exclusion criteria
1. Gravid females; 2. Staff returning from a musculoskeletal injury within the past 6 months or on any return to work program; 3. Any diagnosed contraindications to exercise such as unstable angina, severe aortic stenosis, dissecting aneurysm, coronary heart disease or uncontrolled hypertension.
Outcome results
None listed