Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Role of Exercise in the Workplace to Improve Work Ability, Performance, and Patient-Reported Symptoms Among Older Workers With Osteoarthritis

Jaclyn N Chopp-Hurley; Elora C Brenneman; Emily G Wiebenga; Brittany Bulbrook; Peter J Keir; Monica R Maly

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000001020

Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Role of Exercise in the Workplace to Improve Work Ability, Performance, and Patient-Reported Symptoms Among Older Workers With Osteoarthritis

J Occup Environ Med. 2017 Jun;59(6):550-556. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001020.

Authors

Jaclyn N Chopp-Hurley¹, Elora C Brenneman, Emily G Wiebenga, Brittany Bulbrook, Peter J Keir, Monica R Maly

Affiliation

¹ School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (Dr Chopp-Hurley, Ms Wiebenga, Dr Maly); Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (Ms Brenneman, Ms Bulbrook, Dr Keir, Dr Maly); and Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (Dr Maly).

PMID: 28379878
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001020

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-week workplace exercise program on work ability, performance, and patient-reported symptoms in older university employees with knee and/or hip osteoarthritis.

Methods: Twenty-four participants with clinical hip and/or knee osteoarthritis were randomized to exercise or no exercise. At baseline and follow-up, several work (work ability, resilience), patient-reported (pain, physical function, depressive symptoms, self-efficacy), and performance outcomes (hip and knee strength, mobility performance) were measured.

Results: Significant improvements in work ability (P < 0.049) and patient-reported outcomes (pain, function, depressive symptoms) existed in the exercise group. No improvements were demonstrated in the no exercise group.

Conclusions: Exercise in the workplace improved work ability and patient-reported symptoms in older workers with osteoarthritis. The benefits of workplace exercise programs should be studied in a larger sample in which attention is given to improving exercise adherence.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02609672.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Depression / etiology
Exercise / physiology*
Exercise / psychology
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Muscle Strength
Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
Musculoskeletal Pain / etiology
Occupational Health*
Osteoarthritis, Hip / complications
Osteoarthritis, Hip / physiopathology
Osteoarthritis, Hip / psychology
Osteoarthritis, Hip / rehabilitation*
Osteoarthritis, Knee / complications
Osteoarthritis, Knee / physiopathology
Osteoarthritis, Knee / psychology
Osteoarthritis, Knee / rehabilitation*
Resilience, Psychological
Self Efficacy
Single-Blind Method
Symptom Assessment
Universities*
Walk Test
Work Capacity Evaluation
Workplace*

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02609672