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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05676528

Exercise Intervention for Employees of the University of Bern

As part of a Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF project (On-site multi-component intervention to improve productivity and reduce the economic and personal burden of neck pain in Swiss Office-Workers, NEXpro = Neck EXercises for productivity, SNSF no. 32003B_182389, BASEC no. 2019-01678), the investigators first developed a physiotherapeutic exercise intervention to improve the strength and mobility of the neck muscles. In the SNSF project NEXpro, the intervention took place on-site in the office. However, in view of the digital transformation, it is important to adapt the intervention delivery method to the new virtual work setting. The aims of the present project are therefore to implement, further develop and contextually adapt the exercise intervention in order to reduce musculoskeletal complaints and to reduce health-related presenteeism. The final product is a user-friendly virtual 6-week short exercise intervention that employees of the University of Bern can use independently, regardless of time and place. The effectiveness of the newly developed short exercise intervention (pain reduction, reduction of presenteeism) will be assessed during a short pilot phase.

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Key information

Conditions

Neck Pain Efficiency Exercise Therapy Musculoskeletal Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Occupational Health Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Presenteeism Signs and Symptoms Work Performance

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Bern, Faculty of Human Sciences, Institute of Psychology

Bern, 3012, Switzerland

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Employees of the Faculty of Human Sciences of the University of Bern who
  • suffer from neck pain or would like to prevent neck pain
  • are between 18 and 65 years of age
  • understand German (written and oral)
  • have a predominantly sedentary job
  • have given written consent to participate in the study.

Note: Neither gender, age, education nor group affiliation play a role. The investigators particularly welcome participation from mid-level employees. If students are willing to participate, they may also do so, but this group will not be actively recruited.

Exclusion criteria

  • Existing severe neck pain grade IV (neck trauma, neck injury, specific pathologies (e.g. congenital cervical anomalies, stenosis, radiculopathy), inflammatory conditions (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), history of cervical surgery)
  • If physical activity is contraindicated by the doctor for any reason (e.g. due to unresolved hypertension).

Treatment and study plan

Exercise intervention

Other

The participants will carry out a physiotherapeutic exercise intervention over a period of 6 weeks. The exercise intervention is stored in a smartphone app (PhysiApp) and consists of different neck and shoulder exercises. The investigators will provide the training material to the participants and they may keep it after the end of the study. Participants can choose which and how many exercises they would like to do. However, the investigators ask participants to exercise at least three times a week for 20 minutes each time (a total of one hour per week) and to document the training afterwards in the smartphone app. In the first, third and sixth week, the investigators train together with the participants via a virtual platform (e.g. video call via Microsoft Teams) so that the correct execution of the exercise can be checked and questions can be clarified.

Primary outcomes

  1. Work performance

    Time frame: 6 weeks

    Change in work performance from baseline. Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (i.e., work productivity loss). Min = 0, Max = 100. Higher score means worse (higher work productivity loss).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Intensity of neck pain

    Time frame: Over the period of 6 weeks

    Change in neck pain from baseline. Numeric Rating Scale. Min = 0, Max = 10. Higher score means worse.

  2. Intensity of back pain

    Time frame: Over the period of 6 weeks

    Change in back pain from baseline. Numeric Rating Scale. Min = 0, Max = 10. Higher score means worse.

Other outcomes

  1. Level of physical activity

    Time frame: Over the period of 6 weeks

    Change of the level of physical activity from baseline. Questionnaire, single item (yes / no).

  2. Sleep quality

    Time frame: Over the period of 6 weeks

    Change in sleep quality from baseline. Numeric Rating scale. Min = 1, Max = 5. Higher score means worse.

  3. Work breaks

    Time frame: Over the period of 6 weeks

    Change in work breaks from baseline. Questionnaire, single item (number of work breaks)

  4. General health status

    Time frame: Over the period of 6 weeks

    Change in general health status from baseline. Numeric Rating Scale. Min = 0, Max = 10. Higher score means better.

  5. Mental health status

    Time frame: Over the period of 6 weeks

    Change in mental health status from baseline. Numeric Rating Scale. Min = 0, Max = 10. Higher score means better.

  6. Flexibility

    Time frame: Over the period of 6 weeks

    Change in self-rated flexibility of the muscles from baseline. Numeric Rating Scale. Min = 0, Max = 10. Higher score means better.

  7. Adherence to exercise 1

    Time frame: Over the period of 6 weeks

    Number of exercise from baseline. Via PhysiApp. Higher score means higher number of exercise.

  8. Adherence to exercise 2

    Time frame: Over the period of 6 weeks

    Type of exercise from baseline. Via PhysiApp. Strengthening vs. non-strengthening.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Bern

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Kurzbewegungsintervention für Mitarbeitende Der Universität Bern

Acronym: WeMoveVirtual

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Jan 9, 2023
Registry last updated
Mar 8, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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