Effects of Ergomotor Intervention on Improving Occupational Health in Workers with Work-Related Neck-Shoulder Pain
1
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, SAR, China
2
School of Medical & Health Sciences, Tung Wah College, Hong Kong 999077, SAR, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(24), 5005; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16245005
Received: 30 October 2019 / Revised: 3 December 2019 / Accepted: 5 December 2019 / Published: 9 December 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Workplace Interventions for the Prevention or Amelioration of Musculoskeletal Problems in the Working Population)
(1) Background: Work-related neck and shoulder pain (WRNSP) are common problems, and past occupational research has focused on ergonomic interventions such as adjusting workstations while physiotherapists have traditionally focused on teaching exercises to improve posture and movement control in the clinical setting. The current study aimed to integrate these two approaches and evaluate the immediate and long-term effects of such interventions on occupational exposure outcomes. (2) Methods: A total of 101 patients diagnosed with WRNSP were randomized into 2 groups: Control (CO) group (n = 50) and ergomotor (EM) group (n = 51). Participants in the control group had 12 weeks of usual care (conventional physiotherapy) while participants in the EM group received an integrated program with tailor-made motor control training and ergonomic advice for 12 weeks. (3) Results: Both groups achieved significant improvement in pain and functional outcomes at post-intervention. The EM group also reported significantly improved scores in terms of perceived exertion in the job-related physical demands (JRPD) and the short form workstyle questionnaires compared to the control group. (4) Conclusions: The results suggest that ergomotor intervention may be more effective in producing favorable occupational health outcomes compared to conventional physiotherapy.
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MDPI and ACS Style
So, B.C.L.; Szeto, G.P.Y.; Lau, R.W.L.; Dai, J.; Tsang, S.M.H. Effects of Ergomotor Intervention on Improving Occupational Health in Workers with Work-Related Neck-Shoulder Pain. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 5005.
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