Workplace Exercise Intervention in Administrative Personnel to Reduce Spinal Pain

The Implementation of a Web-based Workplace Exercise Intervention in the Reduction of Spinal Pain in Sedentary Administrative Personnel: Protocol of a Mixed Methodology Study.

The goal of this Clinical trial is to compare treatments in sedentary administrative personnel with back pain. The main question it aims to answer:

The benefits of a workplace intervention with therapeutic exercise and pain education compared with only therapeutic exercise intervention

Participants will perform active pauses in their workplace with a web-based program that consists of videos or images of exercises and pain education information.

Researchers will compare a group Therapeutic exercise and pain education intervention with a group therapeutic exercise only to see if pain education plus exercise is a more beneficial intervention in reducing back pain in symptomatic administrative personnel.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal pathologies are one of the leading causes of disability for the population worldwide, with office workers being one of the most affected groups. This study aims to design and implement a programme of therapeutic exercise and pain education in the workplace to reduce musculoskeletal pathology. The use of therapeutic exercise interventions at work is an economical and feasible option in which it is essential to consider biopsychosocial aspects when designing a successful treatment.

Methods: Mixed methodology study. Phase 1: A qualitative study with a phenomenological approach using semi-structured interviews to determine factors related to office workers' expectations about pain, maintaining static postures at work and implementing active breaks. Phase 2: Implementation of a Randomised Controlled Trial considering current scientific evidence and the results of the first phase with two intervention groups. A group in which therapeutic exercise will be performed at work with pain education, compared to a group implementing only exercise at the workplace.

Discussion: This study is a comprehensive and pragmatic intervention to implement therapeutic exercise in the workplace, considering workers' expectations regarding their pain and the implementation of active breaks. The use of digitalisation in the implementation of therapeutic exercise and pain education in office workers is a feasible and low-cost option. It can improve office workers' quality of life by increasing motivation and adherence to such interventions.

Inclusion Criteria:

• More than 80% of the working day is in a seated position.
• Workers who have a computer or mobile device with an internet connection.
• Workers with more than three months of pain in the back area due to a non-specific cause.

Exclusion Criteria:-

• Part-time workers.
• Pathologies that cause chronic pain.
• Radiculopathies or symptomatic disc herniations/protrusions.
• Inability to perform low-moderate intensity exercise.
• People who are active in their daily lives outside of work willing to report that they meet the minimum stipulated by the WHO (a minimum of 10,000 steps per day and 75-150 minutes of vigorous-moderate physical activity per week).
• Undergoing physiotherapy treatment through public health or a private company.
• Workers on sick leave or during pregnancy.