Musculoskeletal Pain, Neck Pain, Stress, Physiological, Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
Conditions
Keywords
Office workers, Progressive muscle relaxation, Digital physiotherapy, Artificial intelligence, Camera-based motion analysis, PhysioTR Academic, Neck disability, Work productivity, Perceived stress, Musculoskeletal symptoms
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial evaluates the effectiveness of an AI-assisted, camera-based progressive muscle relaxation application in office workers aged 20 to 40 years. Participants are randomly allocated to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group completes a 4-week progressive muscle relaxation program using the PhysioTR Academic application, which provides camera-based real-time movement analysis and exercise guidance. The control group continues their usual daily routine and completes baseline and post-intervention assessments only. Outcomes include pain/tension intensity, musculoskeletal symptoms, perceived stress, neck disability, work productivity, functionality, and AI-based adherence metrics.
Detailed description
This study is a single-center, randomized, controlled, open-label trial conducted in office workers aged 20 to 40 years. Participants are automatically randomized into either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group uses the PhysioTR Academic application for a 4-week progressive muscle relaxation program. The program includes 3 sessions per week, 12 sessions in total. Each session includes four exercise components: face and jaw, neck and shoulders, hands and arms, and back and chest. Each exercise includes a contraction and relaxation phase. The application uses the participant's device camera for real-time movement analysis and provides written and/or audio guidance. The control group continues their usual daily routine and does not receive an exercise intervention during the study period. The control group completes only baseline and post-intervention assessments. Assessments are performed at baseline and Week 4. Outcome measures include the Visual Analog Scale, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, Neck Disability Index, Work Productivity Scale, numeric functionality score, and AI-based adherence and landmark coverage metrics in the intervention group.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALAI-Assisted Camera-Based Progressive Muscle Relaxation Program
A camera-based progressive muscle relaxation program delivered through the PhysioTR Academic web application. The intervention includes 4 weeks of training, 3 sessions per week, for a total of 12 sessions. The application provides written and/or audio instructions and uses camera-based real-time movement analysis to support exercise performance and adherence monitoring.
Sponsors
Istanbul Medipol University Hospital
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Aged between 20 and 40 years * Actively working in a desk-based or office-based job * Having access to a camera-enabled device such as a smartphone or computer * Voluntary participation with informed consent * Able to read and write Turkish * Having a valid e-mail address
Exclusion criteria
* Previous surgery involving the neck or spine * Cervical vertebral fracture or instability * History of neurological disease such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease * Vestibular system disorder * Systemic inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis * History of malignancy * Pregnancy * Having received physiotherapy for the neck or back region within the last 6 months
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Pain/Tension Intensity Assessed by Visual Analog Scale | Baseline and Week 4 | Pain/tension intensity is assessed using a 0-10 Visual Analog Scale. Higher scores indicate greater pain/tension intensity. Change is calculated from baseline to Week 4. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Musculoskeletal Symptoms Assessed by the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire | Baseline and Week 4 | Musculoskeletal symptoms are assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire across body regions. The outcome is summarized as the presence of symptoms by region and/or the number of symptomatic body regions. Higher values indicate more widespread musculoskeletal symptoms. |
| Change in Perceived Stress Scale Score | Baseline and Week 4 | Perceived stress is assessed using the Turkish version of the Perceived Stress Scale. Higher scores indicate greater perceived stress. |
| Change in Neck Disability Index Score | Baseline and Week 4 | Neck-related disability is assessed using the Neck Disability Index. Higher scores indicate greater neck-related disability. |
| Change in Work Productivity Scale Score | Baseline and Week 4 | Work productivity is assessed using a 5-item Likert-type Work Productivity Scale. Total scores range from 5 to 25, with higher scores indicating higher work productivity. |
| Change in Numeric Functionality Score | Baseline and Week 4 | General functionality is assessed using a numeric rating scale from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates very poor functionality and 10 indicates excellent functionality. Higher scores indicate better functionality. |
| AI-Based Exercise Adherence Score | During each of the 12 sessions over the 4-week intervention period | In the intervention group, the application automatically calculates an AI-based adherence score as the percentage of predefined exercise criteria met during each session. Scores range from 0 to 100%, with higher scores indicating better adherence to the required exercise form. |
| AI-Based Landmark Coverage Ratio | During each of the 12 sessions over the 4-week intervention period | In the intervention group, the application calculates a landmark coverage ratio as the percentage of required body landmarks detected by the camera during each exercise. Scores range from 0 to 100%, with higher scores indicating better camera-based landmark detection. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed