Effectiveness of a multifactorial ergonomic intervention and exercise conditioning kinesiology program for subsequent work related musculoskeletal disorder prevention

Abstract

Health care workers are known to be at high risk for occupational musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. Many different intervention strategies have been implemented in order to reduce the risk of injury to health care workers, however not many have been proven to be effective. A continuing care establishment in Ottawa, Canada, implemented a multidimensional kinesiology intervention program for injured employees. To evaluate the effectiveness of the kinesiology intervention program on reducing subsequent rates for the nursing personnel and analyze the impact of age, position (RN, RPN, PCA) and sex on subsequent injuries. The number of recorded work related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) for each patient care worker was counted from 2007-2011. The control group included injured employees that were not referred to the kinesiologists, or who chose not to participate in the program. The intervention group included injured employees that were referred to the kinesiology service and followed their treatment program. The intervention group showed a statistically significant reduction of subsequent acute cases when compared to the control group. Nevertheless there was no significant impact regarding age, position or sex on subsequent acute cases. The kinesiology intervention program within the health care facility was effective at reducing subsequent WRMSD rates within the nursing personnel.