Workplace Health for Fewer Ache and Pains
Back Pain and Neck Pain are extremely common musculoskeletal problems among office workers. Firstly, as part of Functional Wellness, Workplace Health or Office Ergonomics is a crucial step towards preventing musculoskeletal problems and pains.
Workplace Safety & Health
The World Health Organisation advised that the workplace, along with the school, hospital and marketplace, was established as one of the priority settings for health promotion into the 21st century.
Therefore, the idea of the health-promoting workforce is increasingly relevant as more organisations recognise that success in the marketplace; can only be achieved with a healthy; qualified and motivated workforce.
Back Pain Epidemic
In the 2012 Global Medical Trends study by Tower Watson, Musculoskeletal/Back Condition is No 5. in the Global Top Conditions that cause the highest prevalence of medical claims. Mainly caused by ordinary work activities such as sitting in an office chair or heavy lifting.
Therefore, applying ergonomic principles – the study of the workplace as it relates to the worker – can help prevent work-related back pain and back injury and help maintain a healthy back.
In conclusion, the aim of an ergonomics program is to adapt the workplace to a specific worker, dependent on the job description, required tasks, as well as physical make-up of the employee performing those tasks.
Ergonomic Services
Core Concepts has a list of health programmes that include on-site ergonomic assessments and evaluations. Above all, we also tailor customised programmes to suit corporate needs in various industries.
- Ergonomic Site Assessments
- Musculoskeletal Health Screening
- Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)
Core Concepts is a Health Promotion Board listed health promotion service provider. For enquiries on workshops, seminars or customised programmes, kindly email us at workshop@coreconcepts.com.sg or call us at 6226 3632.
Learn more about Workplace Health
Read and learn more about workplace health from our archive of articles here. Here is a collection of articles in a convenient pdf format for download – Workplace Health Management: Volume 1.
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Office Initiative Reduces Headaches And Neck And Shoulder Pain By More Than 40 Percent
Italian researchers compared 169 staff in Turin’s registry and tax offices with 175 colleagues who hadn’t taken part in the educational and physical programme. They compared the baseline results for months one and two of the study with months seven and eight to see if there had been any changes. They did so by using daily diaries completed by both groups. The study group started following the programme in month three.
They found that:
- Staff in both groups reported an average of six headache days a month and seven and a half days when they were affected by neck and shoulder pain. They needed to take analgesic drugs two days a month.
- By the end of the trial, staff in the study group reported that they suffered from 41 per cent fewer headaches. Staff in the control group reported a negligible rise of 0.02 per cent.
- Study group staff also reported 43 per cent less neck and shoulder pain. In comparison, staff in the control group reported a five per cent reduction.
- When it came to medication, the study group reported a 51 per cent reduction in analgesic use. The control group reported a fall of 15 per cent.
- Subjects with anxiety or depression showed a better than average response when compared with the rest of the study group.
Other Impacts
The researchers were also keen to see whether the workplace initiative also reduced the ‘global burden of the employee’s headaches and neck and shoulder pain. This is calculated by multiplying intensity by frequency. They found that:
- Employees in the study group reported a 41 per cent reduction in headache burden. There was a two per cent fall for the control group.
- The burden of neck and shoulder pain was 54 per cent lower in the study group. The control group recorded a reduction of four per cent.
Relaxation And Posture Exercises
“Staff in the study group were asked to carry out a series of relaxation and posture exercises every two to three hours and provided with red labels to place around their work area to remind them to avoid excessive contraction of their head and shoulder muscles” explains lead author Professor Franco Mongini from the Headache and Facial Pain Unit at the University of Turin, Italy.
“The exercises also included two daily periods of ten to 15 minutes when staff relaxed quietly at home in a comfortable armchair with warming pads placed on their cheeks and shoulders.”
The lead author designed the programme. To explain the programme, a short filmed was shown. A practical demonstration and training followed.
Staff were also provided with information sheets on the exercises. The clinician leading the study also revisited the workplace in months four and six to remind staff of the procedures.
The study and control groups were based in separate offices to avoid cross contamination of the results. 90 per cent of the 384 employees who agreed to take part completed the study. Most were female (80 per cent), with an average age of 46.
“Headache and neck and shoulder pain are both a clinical challenge and a major health problem” stresses Professor Mongini, whose research was primarily funded by the Compagnia di San Paolo in Turin, with additional funding from Region Piemonte.
What Does This Mean For Workplace Initiative?
“Last year Cephalalgia published a study by Stovner et al that suggested that the worldwide prevalence of headache was as high as 46 per cent in adults, with 11 per cent suffering from migraine, 42 per cent from tension headaches and three per cent from chronic daily headaches.
“Our study clearly shows that workplace interventions can reduce headaches and neck and shoulder pain.
“The methods adopted were relatively simple and the positive response from the employees, including the low study drop-out rate, suggest that it would prove popular in other workplaces.”
“We also believe that employers would support this low-cost initiative as it would improve productivity in the workplace.”
Reference:
- Effectiveness of an educational and physical programme in reducing headache, neck and shoulder pain: a workplace controlled trial. Mongini et al. Cephalalgia. 28, 541-552 (May 2008).
