Stress and Musculoskeletal Health in Employees

NCT ID: NCT06488547

Last Updated: 2024-07-05

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

57 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-06-01

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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This study aims to evaluate potential correlation of stress as estimated by certain biological markers, namely saliva cortisol, Heart rate variability (HRV), Electromyography (EMG) with musculoskeletal system health status, and assess the impact of a stress management intervention..The intervention group will be trained to apply two evidence based stress management techniques and they will be guided with tips and advice about musculoskeletal health.

Impact of the intervention upon measured stress related markers will be assessed.

Detailed Description

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The goal of this non-pharmacological randomized interventional study is to investigate work-related stress in relation to the musculoskeletal health of employees.

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate if stress management interventions in employees can improve self-reported musculoskeletal health problems or Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS), in relation with biomarkers of stress.

Secondary outcomes will include quality of life improvement and the number of absences from work, due to musculoskeletal conditions.

The main question aims to answer if specific stress management techniques can improve the self-reported musculoskeletal health of employees.

Researchers will compare the results between two groups (one participating in the the six (6) week program and the other not participating) to measure the effect size in the intervention group and between groups.

Participants from both groups will be measured twice (on week 1 and week 8) with the same self-report questionnaires and stress biomarkers, if possible. Especially for the intervention group a six-week stress management program will be applied. This will include the participation in one and a half hour consultation meetings about stress, musculoskeletal health, psychosocial work-related factors, and how to improve well-being and work/life satisfaction.

Conditions

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Musculoskeletal Diseases or Conditions Musculoskeletal Pain Musculoskeletal Health Stress Work Related Stress Occupation-related Stress Disorder Medically Unexplained Symptoms

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

interventional group and control group
Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Stress Managemenet Group

Participants will be instructed and trained with two stress management techniques (Diaphragmatic Breathing- DB and Progressive Muscle Relaxation-PMR), along with biofeedback training in diaphragmatic breathing.

During the eight weeks of the program, participants in the intervention group will receive information regarding stress, work-related stress factors, musculoskeletal health and disorders, the Medically Unexplained Symptoms-MUS, occupational psychosocial hazards, lifestyle habits (healthy diet, sedentary life, sleep, hygiene).

Moreover, participants will be informed about how to manage stress related factors at the workplace, and its symptoms, through lifestyle modifications along with ergonomic guidance at work and in relation with their musculoskeletal health, the psychosocial hazards at work and their body response to work-related stress.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Diaphragmatic breathing (DF)

Intervention Type OTHER

Diaphragmatic breathing (DF), also known as belly or abdominal breathing, is a technique that can teach people how to use their diaphragm correctly while breathing, in order to activate the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system and to control stress.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)

Intervention Type OTHER

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is a technique that is helpful in the reduction of stress.

PMR by alternately tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in the body helps participants to become more aware of physical sensations and can be particularly helpful to muscle tension and relaxation.

Control Group-CG

Participants will receive only information regarding ergonomic practices and tips able to be appilied at the workplace.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Diaphragmatic breathing (DF)

Diaphragmatic breathing (DF), also known as belly or abdominal breathing, is a technique that can teach people how to use their diaphragm correctly while breathing, in order to activate the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system and to control stress.

Intervention Type OTHER

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is a technique that is helpful in the reduction of stress.

PMR by alternately tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in the body helps participants to become more aware of physical sensations and can be particularly helpful to muscle tension and relaxation.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Writing and reading greek.
* Consent to provide their medical history.
* Consent to be measured with electronic devices.

Exclusion Criteria

* Employees who are close to retirement (at least 2 years before) and those for whom any known factor may prevent them from completing the intervention (eg travel, transfer).
* Pregnancy.
* Pacemaker, history of seizures.
* Diagnosed musculoskeletal injury.
* Diagnosed diseases such as: osteoarthritis, autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc.), stroke, myocardial infarction, malignant neoplasms, psychiatric disease, disability.
* Systematic reception of cortisone and anti-inflammatory treatment, up to at least three months before the intervention.
* Drugs or substances.
* Participation in another interventional program of musculoskeletal rehabilitation, physical therapy, stress management or health promotion.
Minimum Eligible Age

19 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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THE ENDOCRINE UNIT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Thessaly

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Eleni Zigkiri

PhD (c)

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Eleni Zigkiri, PhD (c)

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Thessaly

Locations

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University of Thessaly

Larissa, Biopolis- Larissa, Greece

Site Status RECRUITING

The Endocrine Unit of the University of Athens

Athens, , Greece

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Greece

Central Contacts

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Eleni Zigkiri, PhD (c)

Role: CONTACT

+30 6878180765

Markos Sgantzos, Professor

Role: CONTACT

+30 6944412554

Facility Contacts

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Victoria Papaxatzopoulou, Secretary

Role: primary

+30 2410 685702

Markos Sgantzos, Prof

Role: backup

+30 6944412554

George Chrousos, Professor

Role: primary

+030 210 7290260 - 210 7290288

References

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Nakao M. Work-related stress and psychosomatic medicine. Biopsychosoc Med. 2010 May 26;4(1):4. doi: 10.1186/1751-0759-4-4.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 20504368 (View on PubMed)

Goessl VC, Curtiss JE, Hofmann SG. The effect of heart rate variability biofeedback training on stress and anxiety: a meta-analysis. Psychol Med. 2017 Nov;47(15):2578-2586. doi: 10.1017/S0033291717001003. Epub 2017 May 8.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 28478782 (View on PubMed)

Lehrer PM, Gevirtz R. Heart rate variability biofeedback: how and why does it work? Front Psychol. 2014 Jul 21;5:756. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00756. eCollection 2014.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 25101026 (View on PubMed)

Eatough EM, Way JD, Chang CH. Understanding the link between psychosocial work stressors and work-related musculoskeletal complaints. Appl Ergon. 2012 May;43(3):554-63. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2011.08.009. Epub 2011 Sep 23.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 21944295 (View on PubMed)

Buscemi V, Chang WJ, Liston MB, McAuley JH, Schabrun SM. The Role of Perceived Stress and Life Stressors in the Development of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Disorders: A Systematic Review. J Pain. 2019 Oct;20(10):1127-1139. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2019.02.008. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 30797962 (View on PubMed)

Maina G, Palmas A, Bovenzi M, Filon FL. Salivary cortisol and psychosocial hazards at work. Am J Ind Med. 2009 Mar;52(3):251-60. doi: 10.1002/ajim.20659.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 19023870 (View on PubMed)

Wang J, Zhu L, Song L, Zhou Z, Chan W, Li G, Zhou L, Xiao J, Lian Y. A cohort study on the association between changing occupational stress, hair cortisol concentration, and hypertension. PLoS One. 2023 May 17;18(5):e0285623. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285623. eCollection 2023.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 37196014 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2224/14-04-2022

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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