Improving subjective health at the worksite: a randomized controlled trial of stress management training, physical exercise and an integrated health programme.

Our objective was to evaluate the effect of 12 weeks of stress management training (SMT), physical exercise (PE) and an integrated health programme (IHP) in a worksite setting on subjective health complaints. To do this, we randomly split 860 employees into the following groups: control (n = 344), PE (n = 189), IHP (comprising physical exercise and health information) (n = 165) and SMT (n = 162). There were no significant effects on subjective health complaints, sick leave or job stress. However, strong and specific positive effects were experienced for the particular goal areas defined for each intervention. The PE group showed improved general health, physical fitness and muscle pain, while the SMT group showed improved stress management. The IHP group showed the strongest effects, affecting most goals set for treatment.

Physical exercise in women with intractable epilepsy.

Fifteen women with pharmacologically intractable epilepsy were given physical exercise (aerobic dancing with strength training and stretching) for 60 min, twice weekly, for 15 weeks. Seizure frequency was recorded by the patients for 3-7 months before the intervention, during the intervention period, and for 3 months after the intervention. Medication and other known seizure-influencing factors were kept as constant as possible. Self-reported seizure frequency was significantly reduced during the intervention period. The exercise also led to reduced level of subjective health complaints, such as muscle pains, sleep problems, and fatigue. The exercise reduced plasma cholesterol ratio and increased maximum O2 uptake. Because most of the patients were unable to continue the exercise on their own after the intervention period, the exercise effects were not maintained during the follow-up period. The patients were not unwilling to continue the exercise, but it was not sufficient to offer them the possibility of continuing similar types of exercise. We believe that 15 weeks is too short a time to establish a life-style change and that continued physical exercise for these patients requires a well-organized and supportive program, requiring experienced and dedicated instructors.

[Health effects of physical activity and psychological training]. / Helsemessig effekt av fysisk aktivitet og psykologisk trening.

Skeletomuscular pain is a very frequent complaint. Most patients recover spontaneously, but in some this pain may become long-lasting or even chronic. This occurs only in a minority, but even so skeletomuscular pain is the most frequent reason for long-term sickness benefit and permanent disability in the present Norwegian population. This report reviews the results of a series of controlled studies in Norway demonstrating that such pain may be treated by several different methods. Positive effects have been demonstrated from aerobic physical training, stress management training, relaxation training, and combinations of these programmes. Interventions directed at the organisation of the work situation have also had positive effects. These effects include decrease of pain and of psychological and subjective health complaints. However, a comparison of the effects of the different types of treatment would have to be based on a large multicentre study.