Burnout, Core Muscle Endurance, Hedonic Eating Behavior, Musculoskeletal Pain, Postural Abnormalities
Conditions
Keywords
Office Workers, Desk-Based Exercise, Pilates, Workplace Exercise, Musculoskeletal Pain, Posture, Core Endurance, Burnout, Hedonic Eating
Brief summary
This study evaluated whether adding Pilates exercises to a desk-based exercise program provides greater benefits for female office workers than desk-based exercises alone or no exercise intervention. The study included 42 female office workers who were randomly assigned to three groups: a desk-based exercise group, a combined desk-based exercise and Pilates group, or a control group. The exercise interventions were performed for 6 weeks, three days per week. Pain, posture, core muscle endurance, burnout, and hedonic eating behavior were assessed before and after the intervention.
Detailed description
This was a three-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial conducted among female office workers in Elazığ, Türkiye. The study included 42 female office workers aged 24-50 years who had been employed in a desk-based office position for at least one year. Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio to a desk-based exercise group, a combined desk-based exercise and Pilates group, or a control group. Each group consisted of 14 participants. The desk-based exercise group participated in a workplace-adapted exercise program consisting of 13 exercises designed to address musculoskeletal complaints associated with office work. The combined intervention group received the same desk-based exercise program together with a Pilates-based exercise program. The Pilates program was performed on a mat using body weight as resistance and consisted of a 10-minute warm-up, a 40-minute main exercise period, and a 10-minute cool-down. Exercise difficulty was progressively increased during the 6-week intervention. Both intervention programs were delivered three days per week for 6 weeks. Participants in the control group did not receive an exercise intervention during the study period and continued their usual daily activities and work routines. Assessments were performed at baseline and after 6 weeks by the same physiotherapist. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale, including total pain and pain in the neck, upper back, low back, and knee regions. Posture was assessed using the New York Posture Rating Scale. Core endurance was evaluated using lateral bridge, trunk flexor endurance, trunk extensor endurance, prone bridge, modified push-up, and sit-up tests. Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and hedonic eating behavior was assessed using the Hedonic Eating Scale. The primary purpose of the study was to determine whether combining Pilates with desk-based exercises produces greater improvements in physical and psychological outcomes than desk-based exercises alone or no exercise intervention in female office workers.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALDesk-Based Exercise
A workplace-adapted desk-based exercise program consisting of 13 exercises, with 10 repetitions of each exercise, designed to reduce musculoskeletal complaints in office workers, particularly in the shoulder, neck, and low back regions. The program was performed for 6 weeks, three days per week.
BEHAVIORALPilates
A mat-based Pilates exercise program using body weight as resistance. Each 60-minute session consisted of a 10-minute warm-up, 40-minute main exercise period, and 10-minute cool-down. Exercise difficu
Sponsors
Muharrem Gökhan Beydağı
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Three-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial comparing desk-based exercise, combined desk-based exercise and Pilates, and a no-exercise control group.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
24 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Female sex. * Age between 24 and 50 years. * Currently employed in a desk-based office position. * At least 1 year of occupational experience in a desk-based office role. * Having read the study procedures and provided voluntary informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Musculoskeletal surgery within the previous 2 months. * Cognitive or physical inability to cooperate with study procedures. * Pregnancy. * History of malignancy. * Chronic systemic or neurological disease that would preclude participation in exercise. * Unwillingness to participate voluntarily.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pain Intensity (Visual Analog Scale) | Baseline and after 6 weeks | Total musculoskeletal pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Participants rated their perceived pain intensity on a 10-cm scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (unbearable pain). Total pain was calculated based on pain assessments of the neck, upper back, low back, and knee regions. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Low Back Pain Intensity (Visual Analog Scale) | Baseline and after 6 weeks | Pain intensity in the low back region was assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (unbearable pain). |
| Neck Pain Intensity (Visual Analog Scale) | Baseline and after 6 weeks | Pain intensity in the neck region was assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (unbearable pain). |
| Upper Back Pain Intensity (Visual Analog Scale) | Baseline and after 6 weeks | Pain intensity in the upper back region was assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (unbearable pain). |
| Knee Pain Intensity (Visual Analog Scale) | Baseline and after 6 weeks | Pain intensity in the knee region was assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (unbearable pain). |
| Postural Alignment (New York Posture Rating Scale) | Baseline and after 6 weeks | Overall body posture was assessed using the New York Posture Rating Scale. The scale evaluates 13 body regions, with scores of 5 indicating normal alignment, 3 indicating moderate deviation, and 1 indicating severe deviation. Total scores range from 13 to 65, with higher scores indicating better postural alignment. |
| Right Side Bridge Endurance | Baseline and after 6 weeks | Right lateral trunk endurance was assessed using the side bridge test. Participants maintained the side bridge position, and endurance time was recorded in seconds. The test ended when correct body alignment was lost or the pelvis dropped toward the mat. |
| Left Side Bridge Endurance | Baseline and after 6 weeks | Left lateral trunk endurance was assessed using the side bridge test. Participants maintained the side bridge position, and endurance time was recorded in seconds. The test ended when correct body alignment was lost or the pelvis dropped toward the mat. |
| Trunk Flexor Endurance | Baseline and after 6 weeks | Trunk flexor endurance was assessed by recording the time, in seconds, that participants could maintain the standardized trunk flexion position without external support. |
| Trunk Extensor Endurance | Baseline and after 6 weeks | Trunk extensor endurance was assessed by recording the time, in seconds, that participants could maintain the standardized horizontal trunk position during the test. |
| Modified Push-Up Test | Baseline and after 6 weeks | Dynamic core endurance was assessed using the modified push-up test. Participants performed the test from a prone position with the knees maintained in flexion while lifting the head, shoulders, and trunk until the elbows reached full extension. |
| Sit-Up Test | Baseline and after 6 weeks | Abdominal and hip flexor muscle performance was assessed using the sit-up test. Participants performed trunk flexion with the knees flexed and the feet fixed. |
| Burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory) | Baseline and after 6 weeks | Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The inventory includes three subscales: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Higher emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores and lower personal accomplishment scores indicate higher burnout. |
| Hedonic Eating Behavior (Hedonic Eating Scale) | Baseline and after 6 weeks | Hedonic eating behavior was assessed using the 15-item Hedonic Eating Scale. Items are rated on a five-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 15 to 75. Higher scores indicate a greater tendency toward hedonic eating. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed