Comparison of self-management and spa therapy for upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common in the workplace and are a public health issue. Persistent pain despite conservative treatment or surgery may lead to poor long-term outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of a combined 6-day program of exercise, self-management workshops and spa therapy with self-management on functional capacity in personal and professional daily life at 3 months in people with musculoskeletal disorders. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Participants were employed (any type of work) and aged between 18 and 65 years, with latent or symptomatic upper extremity MSDs, with or without a history of sick leave. They were randomized to participate in 6 days (2 h per day) of spa therapy, exercise, and self-management workshops immediately (intervention) or at 3 months (control). The control group performed self-management until 3 months. The primary outcome was the score on the self-reported Quick Disability of Arm-Shoulder-Hand (QuickDASH) at 3 months. The primary analysis was conducted using analysis of covariance with baseline QuickDASH score as the covariate. RESULTS: In total, 150 participants were randomized (85 % women): 78 to the control group and 72 to the intervention group. At 3 months, the QuickDASH total and work scores did not differ between groups (effect-size [ES] = -0.15, 95 %CI, -0.38 to 0.09, p = 0.215, and ES = -0.11, 95 % CI, -0.35 to 0.12, p = 0.343). However, QuickDASH sport/performing arts score was significantly different between randomization groups at 3 months (ES =-0.25, 95 % CI, -0.48 to -0.02, p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: This study provided no evidence in favor of a short-course, personalized self-management, intensive spa therapy intervention over self-management alone for the management of upper-extremity MSDs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02702466) retrospectively registered.

Motivators for and barriers to physical activity in people with knee osteoarthritis: A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to explore the motivators for and barriers to regular physical activity in people with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional, monocentric qualitative study based on 20 semi-structured individual interviews and two focus groups. People with knee osteoarthritis according to American College of Rheumatology criteria were recruited from spa therapy resorts (Royat, France). Data were collected by interviews, which were then transcribed and coded. The analysis was performed according to the researcher triangulation method. RESULTS: Among the 27 participants (17 women), the mean age was 67years (SD 7.8) and mean body mass index 29.2kg/m2 (SD 8.2). The motivators for physical activity were physical (well-being, decreased pain, self-perception), personal (lifestyle, psychological well-being), societal (relationships, others' views), and environmental (living). The motivators differed by gender, with the concept of performance predominant for men and others' views for women. The barriers were psychological (fear of pain, lack of motivation) and physical (knee pain, asthenia) and were also potentially related to life events (depression, hospitalization). CONCLUSIONS: The study population had an overall positive idea of the value of physical activity for knee osteoarthritis. The participants expressed beliefs and knowledge generally in line with current recommendations. Compliance with these recommendations remains moderate. An educational support for progressive adapted physical activity and identification of barriers and motivators could help improve adherence.

Evaluation of the efficacy of a short-course, personalized self-management and intensive spa therapy intervention as active prevention of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities (Muska): a research protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) constitute a major occupational health problem in the working population, substantially impacting the quality of life of employees. They also cause considerable economic cost to the healthcare system, with, notably, the reimbursement of treatments and compensation for lost income. MSDs manifest as localized pain or functional difficulty in one or more anatomical areas, such as the cervical spine, shoulder, elbow, hand, and wrist. Although prevalence varies depending on the region considered and the method of assessment, a prevalence of 30% is found in different epidemiological studies. The disease needs to be prevented, not only for medical and economic reasons, but also for legal reasons, owing to the requirement of assessing occupational risks. The strategy envisaged may thus revolve around active, multimodal prevention that has employees fully involved at the heart of their care. Although physical exercise is widely recommended, few studies with a good level of evidence have enabled us to base a complete, well-constructed intervention on exercise that can be offered as secondary prevention in these disorders. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter, comparative (intervention arm vs. control arm), randomized (immediate vs. later treatment) study using Zelen's design. This study falls under active prevention of MSDs of the upper extremities (UE-MSDs). Participants are workers aged between 18 and 65 years with latent or symptomatic MSDS, with any type of job or workstation, with or without an history of sick leave. The primary aim is to show the superiority at 3 months of a combination of spa therapy, exercise, and self-management workshops for 6 days over usual care in the management of MSDs in terms of employee functional capacity in personal and professional daily life. Secondary aims are to assess the benefit of the intervention in terms of pain, quality of life, and accumulated duration of sick leave. DISCUSSION: This randomized controlled trial is the first that will aim to evaluate multidisciplinary management of UE-MSDs using nonpharmacological treatment combining exercise, self-management, and spa therapy. The originality of this intervention lies, in its short, intensive format, which is compatible with remaining in work; and in its multidisciplinary approach. This trial has the potential to demonstrate, with a good level of evidence, the benefits of a short course of spa therapy combined with a personalized self-management program on the functional capacity, pain, and quality of life of employees in their daily life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial.gov NCT02702466 retrospectively registered. PROTOCOL: Version 4 of 9/10/2015.