Clinical Research Directory

ACUTE EFFECT OF DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING ON POSTOPERATIVE UPPER TRAPEZIUS PAIN

This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the acute effects of diaphragmatic breathing exercises added to soft tissue mobilization and percussive therapy on pain intensity, functional disability, and pressure pain threshold in operating room nurses experiencing upper trapezius pain after surgery-related work activities. Participants will be operating room nurses working in a hospital operating theater who report upper trapezius pain and tenderness within 30 minutes after completing a surgical procedure. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving soft tissue mobilization, percussive therapy, and diaphragmatic breathing exercises, or a control group receiving soft tissue mobilization and percussive therapy alone. Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional disability using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and mechanical pain sensitivity using Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) measurements. Assessments will be performed immediately before and after a single treatment session. The study aims to determine whether the addition of diaphragmatic breathing exercises provides additional benefits in reducing pain and improving function in the acute postoperative working period of operating room nurses.

Exercise and Health Education for Musculoskeletal Health in Industrial Workers

This prospective, non-randomised interventional study aims to assess changes in musculoskeletal health, pain and physical activity among industrial workers following a health education and exercise programme adapted to their baseline musculoskeletal profile. Workers from production lines 8 and 9 at Profand Zaragoza will be allocated to one of two groups according to their baseline musculoskeletal symptoms, assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. The reference group will receive a health education session, while workers with a higher baseline musculoskeletal burden will receive the same health education session together with a specific exercise programme consisting of supervised face-to-face and asynchronous home-based sessions. The primary outcome is perceived pain intensity measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Secondary outcomes include musculoskeletal symptoms and physical activity. In the specific intervention group, health-related quality of life and physical function will also be assessed. Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, after the intervention and at three-month follow-up. Changes over time will be analysed separately within each group.

Reducing Physical Workload Among Assistant Nurses Through Ergonomic Work Technique Training With or Without Biofeedback

Assistant nurses often develop work-related pain in the back, neck and shoulders because their work involves frequent patient handling and movement. Training in safe patient handling may help reduce pain and injury risk, and biofeedback may further support better work techniques during everyday care work. This study will test whether workplace-based training in patient handling can reduce musculoskeletal problems among assistant nurses. It will also examine whether adding six weeks of self-managed biofeedback-supported work technique training gives extra benefits compared with patient handling training alone. The study will include 60 assistant nurses with musculoskeletal symptoms, who will be randomly assigned to one of the two training groups. Data will be collected through interviews, physical assessments, questionnaires at baseline, six weeks and six months, and weekly SMS monitoring. Interviews with assistant nurses and managers will also explore how the intervention works in practice, how safe patient handling can be promoted, and what organisational factors support safer working methods.

Workstation Ergonomics Program at Al-Baha University

This study evaluates a workstation ergonomics program at Al-Baha University aimed at reducing work-related musculoskeletal symptoms among university employees who use computers regularly. The program includes an ergonomics self-assessment of the workstation, individualized guidance on proper workstation setup and posture, and practical recommendations to improve daily work habits. Participants will be followed for approximately four weeks, and changes in musculoskeletal symptoms and related outcomes will be assessed before and after the program, compared with a usual-practice control group.

Posture Protection Program for Musculoskeletal Disorders and Ergonomic Risk in Hospital Cleaning Staff

Cleaning work, particularly in hospital settings, is an occupation that demands high physical load on both the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. Hospital cleaning workers are at high risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to prolonged standing, heavy lifting, bending, pushing-pulling, and repetitive movements. This situation reduces employees' quality of life and leads to workforce loss and economic burden on the health system. Despite this, the risk levels of cleaning workers are often not adequately assessed and preventive interventions remain limited. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the effect of the Posture Protection Program (POSKOP), developed for hospital cleaning workers, on musculoskeletal discomfort, ergonomic risk levels, and postural awareness. The study is planned as a quasi-experimental design to be conducted with 60 cleaning staff working in two public hospitals. Ergonomic risk assessment will be performed using the Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS) and will be objectively analyzed through developed software. The intervention program consists of multi-component elements such as training, individual observation, instant feedback, exercise practices, visual materials (posters and pocket cards), and digital reminders (WhatsApp messages). The intervention is expected to reduce employees' musculoskeletal discomfort levels and increase their ergonomic awareness.

The Impact of Back-supporting Exoskeletons for Manual Order Picking in Danish Warehouses - The RELAX Project

This study investigates the long-term effects of implementing a passive back-support exoskeleton during manual order-picking work in a real-world warehouse environment. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders, particularly low back pain, are common among logistics workers due to frequent lifting, repetitive movements, and awkward postures. Although laboratory studies suggest that occupational exoskeletons can reduce biomechanical load, evidence from long-term, real-world workplace implementations remains limited. The RELAX project is an 18-month controlled in-field intervention study conducted in two departments of a Danish warehouse. Approximately 90 full-time warehouse workers will participate. Workers in the intervention department will use a passive back-support exoskeleton during manual order-picking tasks, while workers in the control department will continue their work as usual. The primary outcomes include sickness absence, employee turnover, perceived work intensity, and musculoskeletal discomfort. Secondary outcomes include productivity, user acceptance of the exoskeleton, and cost-effectiveness of the intervention. Outcomes will be assessed through company records, repeated questionnaires, and focus-group interviews over the 18-month period. By combining longitudinal quantitative outcomes with qualitative process evaluation, the study aims to determine whether long-term use of a passive back-support exoskeleton can improve worker well-being and reduce work-related musculoskeletal burden without negatively affecting productivity. The results may inform workplace policies and future implementation of occupational exoskeletons in physically demanding industries.

WRMSDs Among Orthopedic Surgeons

The investigators investigated the prevalence of WRMSDs in Egyptian orthopaedic surgeons.

Development of Multidimensional Screening Tool for WMSDs

The purpose of this study is to develop a multidimensional screening tool for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) and to evaluate its psychometric properties. The study involves a cross-sectional survey of approximately 250 workers in the bio-pharmaceutical industry to assess the tool's structural validity, internal consistency, construct validity, and measurement invariance following COSMIN guidelines.