Evaluation of Ergonomic Risks and the Effect of Patient Education on Musculoskeletal Complaints, Posture and Breathing Awareness in Bank Employees

Musculoskeletal complaints such as neck and low back pain are frequently observed among office workers due to prolonged sitting, poor posture and repetitive computer use. Bank employees spend a large portion of their working hours in sedentary positions, which may increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Ergonomic risk factors, lack of physical activity and poor posture awareness may contribute to these health problems.

The aim of this study is to evaluate ergonomic risk factors among bank employees and to examine the effects of ergonomic education and breathing exercises on musculoskeletal complaints, ergonomic knowledge, posture awareness and breathing awareness. The study includes office employees aged between 20 and 55 years who work at a desk for at least four hours per day.

Participants will be randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Baseline measurements will include demographic information, pain intensity assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ergonomic risk assessment using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA), musculoskeletal complaints using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, posture awareness using the Postural Awareness Scale (PAS) and breathing awareness using the Nijmegen Questionnaire.

The intervention group will receive ergonomic education and breathing exercise training supervised by a physiotherapist for eight weeks. Sessions will be conducted twice per week using video-based exercise guidance and online conferencing. The control group will receive no intervention and will only undergo baseline and follow-up assessments.

All participants will be evaluated at baseline and after eight weeks. The results of the study will be analyzed to determine the effectiveness of ergonomic education and breathing exercises in reducing musculoskeletal complaints and improving posture and breathing awareness among bank office employees.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged between 20 and 55 years
• Working at a desk job
• Using a computer for at least 4 hours per day
• Employed in the same job for at least 6 months
• Voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• History of musculoskeletal injury, trauma or surgery affecting the head, neck, back, shoulder, arm, leg or hand
• Pregnancy
• Presence of any medical condition affecting the musculoskeletal system
• Regular use of analgesic medication
• Diagnosis of psychiatric disorders