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Multicenter Study
. 2017 Oct-Dec;34(4):611-618.
doi: 10.17843/rpmesp.2017.344.2848.

[Effect of Rest Pauses Combined with Information Leaflets on the Decrease in Musculoskeletal Pain in Administrative Workers]

[Article in Spanish]
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

[Effect of Rest Pauses Combined with Information Leaflets on the Decrease in Musculoskeletal Pain in Administrative Workers]

[Article in Spanish]
V Steffany Cáceres-Muñoz et al. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica. 2017 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the effect of work pauses combined with information leaflets on the reduction of musculoskeletal pain in administrative workers of a public institution in Lima, Peru.

Materials and methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in two offices of a public institution and included an intervention group and a non-randomized control group. The intervention group (n = 135) was provided with information leaflets once a week, in addition to a program of rest pauses consisting of breathing exercises, stretching, and encouragement. The control group (n = 127) received information leaflets once a week. To assess outcomes, the rate and intensity of musculoskeletal pain over the previous 7 days were measured.

Results: The mean age of participants was 38 years. The most affected body regions were the neck and lumbar spine. In the intervention group, the rate of musculoskeletal pain was reduced by 20% in the neck (p<0.001) and 17% in the lumbar spine (p<0.001) over the previous 7 days. In the control group, the rate of musculoskeletal pain was decreased only in the lumbar spine (p=0.029). The intervention group reported less pain in all evaluated body regions (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Rest pauses combined with information leaflets resulted in decreased musculoskeletal pain in administrative workers, indicating that this strategy can be implemented in public and private institutions.

Objetivos: Comprobar el efecto de un programa de pausa activa más folletos informativos, en la disminución de molestias musculoesqueléticas en trabajadores administrativos de una institución pública de Lima, Perú.

Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio cuasiexperimental con grupo control, no aleatorizado, en dos sedes en una institución pública. El grupo intervención (n=135) recibió folletos informativos una vez por semana, adicionalmente realizó el programa de pausas activas supervisadas, las cuales consistían en ejercicios de respiración, estiramiento y calentamiento. El grupo control (n=127) solo recibió folletos informativos una vez por semana. Se midió la frecuencia e intensidad de molestias musculoesqueléticas en los últimos siete días.

Resultados: La edad promedio fue 38 años. Los segmentos más afectados fueron el cuello y dorso lumbar. El grupo intervención redujo 20% la frecuencia de molestias musculoesqueléticas en cuello en los últimos siete días (p<0,001) y 17% en la zona dorso lumbar (p<0,001), el grupo control solo redujo la frecuencia en la zona dorso lumbar (p=0,029). Respecto a intensidad del dolor, el grupo de intervención tuvo mayor disminución en todos los segmentos evaluados (p<0,05).

Conclusiones: Las pausas activas supervisadas más folletos informativos lograron disminuir las molestias musculoesqueléticas en trabajadores administrativos. Por ello, puede ser implementado en otras instituciones públicas o privadas.

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