Work-related Illness, Work-related Injury
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this research is to comparatively examine the effects of ergonomics training and the combined application of ergonomics and structured exercise training on work-related musculoskeletal disorders in female farmers actively engaged in milking.
Detailed description
The study will assign female farmers actively engaged in milking to two groups using a simple randomization method: a control group (ergonomics training) and an experimental group (ergonomics and exercise training). The control group will receive standard ergonomics training aimed at reducing ergonomic risk factors encountered during milking. The experimental group will receive the same ergonomics training as the control group, plus a structured exercise program consisting of stretching, strengthening, and posture exercises. The exercise program will be planned based on progressive loading principles, muscle group-specific exercise selection, set-repetition arrangement, and standardization of rest intervals. The intervention period is 12 weeks, with exercises performed 3 days a week. All participants will be evaluated before and after the intervention using the Visual Analog Scale, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Short Form, all within the same assessment protocol.
Interventions
OTHEROther: Standardized Ergonomics Training
The control group will be given standard ergonomics training which includes proper body mechanics, correct working posture and musculoskeletal protection principles during milking.
OTHEROther: Standardized Ergonomics Training Plus Structured Exercise Programme
The exercise group will receive the same ergonomics training as well as a structured exercise program consisting of stretching, strengthening and posture exercises. The exercise program will be planned to last three days a week for a total of 12 weeks.
Sponsors
Uskudar University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
25 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Female sex * Age 25-60 years * Actively engaged in dairy milking for at least 5 years * Sufficient physical capacity to participate in the education and exercise programme * Provision of written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Any diagnosed concomitant musculoskeletal or rheumatological disease affecting any body region, including diagnosed wrist/hand conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinopathy * Any concomitant neurological disease or neurological dysfunction * History of surgery involving the musculoskeletal system * Any serious systemic disease that would preclude participation
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Work-Related Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity Assessed With the Visual Analogue Scale | Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 12) | Pain intensity is assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates unbearable pain. Participants rate their overall work-related musculoskeletal pain considering the neck, shoulders, and lower back. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Upper-Limb Functional Disability Assessed With the QuickDASH | Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 12) | The QuickDASH is an 11-item questionnaire scored from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate greater upper-limb disability. |
| Change in Depressive Symptoms Assessed With the Beck Depression Inventory | Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 12) | Depressive symptoms are assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory. Higher total scores indicate greater depressive symptom severity. |
| Change in Quality of Life Assessed With the WHOQOL-BREF | Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 12) | Quality of life is assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF. The physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment domains are scored and transformed to a 4-20 scale. Higher scores indicate better quality of life. |
| Musculoskeletal Symptom Prevalence Assessed With the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire | Baseline (12-month recall) and week 12 (7-day recall) | The Standardised Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire assesses musculoskeletal symptoms in nine body regions: neck, shoulders, upper back, elbows, wrists/hands, lower back, hips/thighs, knees, and ankles/feet. At baseline, the 12-month recall section is used; at week 12, the 7-day recall section is used. Results are reported descriptively because the recall periods differ between assessments. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
STUDY_CHAIRMuharrem AKAR
Uskudar University
Outcome results
None listed