Advancing health-enhancing physical activity at workplace: Sport4Heath 2020 scientific forum

Randomized controlled trial investigating the role of yoga at workplace in improving fatigue, burnout, pain, strength, and quality of life among blue-collar workers

BACKGROUND

Due to the physical demands of work, blue-collar workers (BCW) frequently experience fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and burnout. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and utility of introducing yoga-based loosening exercises (YLE) at the workplace for improving fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and burnout among BCW.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and twenty-eight BCW were randomized into a yoga group that received 40 minutes of supervised YLE daily, 5 days a week, for 1 month, followed by 1 month of unsupervised practice at home or a waitlisted control group. The Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), Visual Analog Scale for pain, Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), sit-and-reach test (SRT), handgrip strength dynamometer, and the Short Form-8 (SF-8) questionnaire were measured at baseline, at the end of the first month, and at follow-up after the first month.

RESULTS

All the participants adhered well to the YLE (≈86% at the workplace, ≈70% at home). Compared to the controls, the yoga group reported significant reductions in fatigue, pain, and burnout and significant improvements in flexibility, strength, and quality of life (P < 0.001) at all the time points.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that workplace yoga programs for BCW are feasible and can considerably reduce fatigue, pain, and burnout and improve their quality of life.

Mapping the conceptual structure of ergonomics, musculoskeletal disorders, treatment and return to work in manual jobs: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Musculoskeletal disorders constitute one of the major health problems of workers exposed to manual work throughout the world. Nevertheless, there is no study that maps its conceptual structure based on a systematic methodology.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the conceptual structure of ergonomics, MSDs, treatment and return to work in manual jobs in the last 12 years by applying a systematic co-word network analysis methodology which describes the replicability of the search filters and emphasizes the rigor that has to be followed in the creation of the network.

METHODS

The search filter was customized for each bibliographic database, and followed the PRISMA 2020 flowchart for the screening process. For the creation of the network, the titles, abstracts, and keywords were used as the unit of analysis extracting the noun phrases of the first two units. In the normalization process, the terms of the search filter were deleted and their associated terms, and standardized the similar terms. Regarding the plotting of the network, Vosviewer was used applying the network settings based on content analysis.

RESULTS

The co-word network shows three communities: Ergonomic assessment and workplace intervention tools, factors related to rehabilitation and return to work, and physical and mental overload management. For each community, there is a framework that explains the relationship within terms.

CONCLUSION

This study is aligned with the replicability, robustness, and relevance recommendations in the implementation of rigorous scientometric studies. The occupational health community is encouraged to implement scientometric studies following a rigorous methodology and working in interdisciplinary team.

Association between physical activity and health in healthcare professionals : Results from the nationwide AMADEUS survey

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of healthcare professionals engaging in insufficient levels of physical activity (PA) and to identify sociodemographic, professional and health characteristics associated with insufficient PA levels.

METHODS

We conducted a nationwide online cross-sectional study targeting healthcare professionals in France from May 2021 to June 2021. Participant recruitment involved outreach through social networks, professional networks, and email invitations. PA levels were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), with insufficient PA defined as weekly PA totaling less than 600 mets/week.

RESULTS

The study included a total of 10,325 participants, of whom 3939 (38.1%, 95% confidence interval 37.1-39.0%) exhibited insufficient levels of PA. In the multivariable analysis, we identified factors associated with insufficient PA: ages between 35-44 (aOR=1.58, 95%CI [1.21-2.06], p=.001) and 45-54 years (aOR=1.40, 95%CI [1.07-1.83], p =.015), gender (female aOR=1.47, 95%CI [1.12-1.44], p<.001), and professions including health executive (aOR=1.27, 95%CI [1.32-1.64], p<.001), nurse assistant (aOR=1.25, 95%CI [1.07-1.47], p=.006), and physician (aOR=1.18, 95%CI [1.03-1.34], p=.015). Additionally, burnout (aOR=1.32, 95%CI [1.21-1.44], p<.001), tobacco use (aOR=1.33, 95%CI [1.20-1.58], p<.001), being overweight (aOR=1.39, 95%CI [1.28-1.52], p<.001), major depression (aOR=1.44, 95%CI [1.20-1.47], p<.001), and sleep disorders (aOR=1.14, 95%CI [1.05-1.25], p=.002) were associated with insufficient PA. Work night shifts was associated with sufficient PA.

CONCLUSION

Our study has revealed a substantial prevalence of healthcare professionals with insufficient PA levels. This prevalence, coupled with various associated health-damaging behaviors and mental health issues, underscores the importance of acknowledging the barriers they encounter in adopting a physically active lifestyle.

Health and physical fitness profiling of working population: Sport4Health 2021

Sport4Health Network (SPORT4H) is a multidisciplinary project co-funded by the European Union Erasmus+ programme aimed to encourage participation in physical activity in working population. SPORT4H includes educational and instructional activities that provide top-notch knowledge on various physical activities that may have an additional benefit to improve healthy lifestyle behaviours across workforce. The aims of Sport4Health 2021 e-symposium organized from 22nd to 23th March 2021 were to: (1) summarize data collected during this project through evaluation of health and fitness profiles for over 40,000 employees from all Sport4HealthNet countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Netherlands, Serbia and Slovenia); (2) discuss the applicability of user-friendly guidelines for physical activity at workplace and e-learning module that includes multicomponent interventions with innovative activities; (3) share experiences from different partners about the effects of educational interventions in specific working environment; and, (4) overview challenges identified during the implementation of interventions at work settings. The Sport4Health 2021 e-symposium facilitated networking between partner institutions, provided practical information for extensive public education that advances physical activity at workplace, and capacitated interaction and recruitment of end-users through e-learning modules and guidelines.