Effects of a physical exercise intervention on subjective physical well-being, psychosocial functioning and general well-being among office workers: a cluster randomized-controlled cross-over design.

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of a workplace physical exercise intervention on subjective physical well-being, psychosocial functioning and general well-being. The study was a cluster randomized-controlled trial with the department (n=4) as the unit of randomization. The subjects (n=90) were office workers [mean age 45.7 (SD 8.5) years]. Psychosocial functioning and well-being variables were measured by descriptive visual rating scales. The cross-over design consisted of one 15-week intervention period of light resistance training and guidance and another 15-week period of no training and no guidance. The statistical analysis was based on linear mixed models. The active component of the intervention, light resistance training, resulted in a slight, but statistically significant, increase in subjective physical well-being (P=0.015). At the average training time of 5 min/working day (25 min/week) the average increase during the 15-week period was 4 units (95% confidence interval (CI) 1-7) and 5% (95% CI 1-9). The physical exercise intervention had no effect on somatic symptoms, anxiety, self-confidence, mood, mental stress at work, working atmosphere, life satisfaction or meaning of life. Daily light resistance training, conducted during the working day, had a positive direction on subjective physical well-being among office workers.

An experimental controlled study on postural sway and therapeutic exercise in subjects with low back pain.

OBJECTIVES: To describe postural sway and its associations to background factors, low back pain and functional capacity. To evaluate the changes in postural sway after three months of therapeutic exercise in the gym or at home. DESIGN: A one-year randomized experimental trial evaluated postural sway in three study groups: intensive training, home exercise and control group. SETTING: Subjects were recruited from seven local occupational health care centres in Central Finland and were examined at Central Finland Hospital by medical doctors. Measurements and therapeutic exercise programmes were carried out in the Research Laboratory of Sport and Health Sciences at Jyväskylä University. SUBJECTS: Initially, 49 male and 41 female subjects (aged 20-55 years) with nonspecific and subacute low back pain were examined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postural sway using a force platform, the Oswestry Index, as well as a measure of low back pain intensity were measured at the initial stage of the study, directly after interventions, as well as at three and nine months after the interventions. RESULTS: The background variables were not strongly correlated with postural sway. No changes occurred in the amplitude of sway during the study, but the sway velocity of the home exercise group increased. CONCLUSIONS: Postural sway measurements with a force platform may be suitable for detecting impairments of balance performance among subjects with pronounced functional or activity limitations and severe low back pain problems. In order to enhance balance performance, specific and customized exercise programmes are required.

Reproducibility of isometric strength: measurement of neck muscles.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the repeatability of an advanced method of measuring the strength of functionally different groups of neck muscles using an isometric apparatus. DESIGN: A repeated measures design was used within and between sessions. BACKGROUND: Chronic neck pain has been associated with poor isometric neck strength. In rehabilitation, strength measurements may thus help to evaluate the basic condition and show whether or not treatments and exercises have been beneficial for improving strength. Previous tests have concentrated on testing strength while trying to bend forwards and backwards, but no biomechanics device, able to test rotator muscles, has been presented. METHOD: The new isometric measurement device was used to test flexion, extension and also rotation strengths of normal subjects (n = 33). RESULTS: Intratester repeatability was good with regard to all measured parameters. CONCLUSIONS: With both tests performed on the same day and test comparisons between days, intratest repeatability was good with regard to all measured parameters.