Effects of stretching exercise training and ergonomic modifications on musculoskeletal discomforts of office workers: a randomized controlled trial.
Ardalan Shariat, Joshua A Cleland, Mahmoud Danaee and 3 others
PMID 28939263WHAT IT FOUND
Six months of office stretching reduced neck, shoulder and lower back discomfort more than no treatment.
Adding desk or chair changes to exercise did not improve pain more than exercise alone.
Key findings
01At 6 months, stretching alone significantly reduced discomfort scores versus no treatment: neck −10.55, right shoulder −12.17, left shoulder −11.1 and lower back −7.8.
02At 6 months, stretching plus ergonomic changes also significantly reduced discomfort versus no treatment: neck −9.99, right shoulder −11.12, left shoulder −10.67 and lower back −6.87.
03Adding ergonomic changes to stretching did not give a significantly greater 6-month benefit than stretching alone.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The people assessing outcomes were not blinded, so reported discomfort scores may be less reliable. Attrition was substantial: 180 were randomized and 142 completed, with 18 participants resigning, 5 not receiving the intervention and 15 control participants dropping out to do treatments at home. The ergonomic modification only adjusted existing equipment, not replacing desks and chairs entirely, so results may not apply to larger workplace redesigns. The exercise program was stretching without loading, so it does not show what resistance or more intensive exercise would do. Participants were office workers in Malaysia with at least two years of office experience and medium or high discomfort, so results may not generalize to other groups.
Declared interests
There was no grant or funding; the study was done from the researchers' personal budget, and the authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that adding ergonomic changes to stretching gives more relief than stretching alone. The combined group was better than no treatment at 6 months, but it was not significantly better than the exercise-only group.