None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This randomised trial will evaluate the effectiveness of two different sit-stand recommendations on changes in pain in office workers with lower back pain (LBP). Who is it for? The study is for office workers aged over 18 years, who have a sit-stand desk or workstation and have LBP. Workers with medical conditions that limit standing will be ineligible. Study details Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups (Recommendation A or B) for 3 months. Participants in group recommendation A will be prescribed a fixed recommendation of alternating sitting and standing at a 2:1 ratio of 30 minutes sitting followed by 15 minutes of standing by a health professional. Participants in group recommendation B will be prescribed a more flexible recommendation which involves developing a sitting and standing ratio for that person. Participants will be assessed on immediate (at 2 weeks) and short-term (3 months) effects on their LBP and sitting and standing patterns. Acceptability and feasibility of the intervention, pain-related disability, and a range of work-related measures (e.g. productivity) will be assessed after 3 months. If either recommendation is found to be effective, acceptable, and feasible, it could be readily incorporated into protocols for ergonomists and workplaces to use when installing sit-stand desks.
Interventions
Brief name: Recommendation A (Arm 1)
Participants will receive one, face-to-face individual session at their workplace with a health professional (e.g. ergonomist or physiotherapist), where a fixed recommendation of alternate sitting and standing at a 2:1 ratio with 30 min of sitting and 15 min of standing will be prescribed. Written guidelines specific to this recommendation will be provided. The health professional will work with the participant to establish a suitable and acceptable method
Brief name: Recommendation A (Arm 1) Participants will receive one, face-to-face individual session at their workplace with a health professional (e.g. ergonomist or physiotherapist), where a fixed recommendation of alternate sitting and standing at a 2:1 ratio with 30 min of sitting and 15 min of standing will be prescribed. Written guidelines specific to this recommendation will be provided. The health professional will work with the participant to establish a suitable and acceptable method to ensure adherence to this schedule, which may include installing a mobile device app on their smartphone, a computer prompt, using an activity tracker with break alerts, or a timer. Preference will be given to free or already existing options. The health professional will contact participants individually fortnightly for 12 weeks via phone or email to provide support and troubleshoot concerns regarding adherence or discomfort. Brief name: Recommendation B (Arm 2) Participants will receive one, face-to-face individual session at their workplace with a health professional (e.g. ergonomist or physiotherapist), where a flexible recommendation of alternate sitting and standing will be prescribed. This personalised, ‘activity pacing’ approach will involve: (1) identifying how much a participant can engage in sitting and standing at a comfortable level, (2) developing an individual sit-stand ratio for that person (e.g. 75% of time to discomfort), and, (3) if desired, a plan for adjusting the ratio to a goal level of sitting and standing. Written guidelines specific to this recommendation will be provided. As per Recommendation A, a suitable and acceptable method to ensure adherence to this schedule will be established. The health professional will contact participants individually fortnightly for 12 weeks via phone or email to provide support and troubleshoot concerns regarding adherence or discomfort.
Sponsors
RECOVER Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
• Desk-based workers • Currently have a sit-stand desk or workstation • Work at least 3 days per week (or 0.6 full-time equivalent hours) • Have experienced low back pain (LBP) within the previous one month. LBP will be classified as average pain of at least 2 out of 10 on an 11-point numerical pain rating scale with responses from 0 to 10 (‘no pain at all’ to ‘worst pain imaginable’).
Exclusion criteria
• Non-English speaking • Have a known allergy to adhesive tape • Have received medical advice to avoid standing for longer than 10 minutes at a time • Have been diagnosed with circulation problems that limit standing • Have arthritis in the hips and/or knees that limits standing up to 15 minutes at a time • Have dizziness or regular loss of balance when standing • Have had trauma or surgery to the back or legs in the past 12 months • Experience pain if standing for up to 15 minutes at a time • Are pregnant
Outcome results
None listed