Musculoskeletal PainNCT05946018
Physiatrist Ergonomic Intervention on Work Related Musculoskeletal Pain in Surgeons
A study testing Educational video on ergonomics and Verbal physical therapy coaching sessions in people with Musculoskeletal Pain and Work Related Stress, run by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this randomized control trial is to learn if physical therapy coaching and education improves work-related muscle pain in surgeons more than education alone. The main focuses of this study are to: 1. To evaluate pain in surgeons before and after surgical cases. 2. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any age
- Conditions the study is for
- Musculoskeletal Pain, Work Related Stress, Quality of Life
- What is being tested?
- Educational video on ergonomics and Verbal physical therapy coaching sessions
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 51 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 25 Sep 2023to 7 May 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Attending/faculty surgeon or surgical trainee (PGY2 or above) in any surgical specialty
- Operates at least one day per week
Who cannot join
- Currently under active treatment for a musculoskeletal injury (example: physical therapy)
- Plans to decrease operating time to less than one day per week in the next 6 months
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Physiatrist Ergonomic Intervention on Work Related Musculoskeletal Pain in Surgeons: A Randomized Control Trial
The goal of this randomized control trial is to learn if physical therapy coaching and education improves work-related muscle pain in surgeons more than education alone. The main focuses of this study are to:
- To evaluate pain in surgeons before and after surgical cases.
- To evaluate work-load related stress in surgeons after surgical cases.
- To evaluate surgeons' quality of life.
- To evaluate surgeons' grip strength.
Participants will be put into two groups at random. One group will watch an educational video only. The other group will watch an educational video and get a coaching session from a physical therapist.
Read the detailed description
All participants will undergo the same baseline, pre-intervention assessments. Pre-intervention assessments will include several questionnaires: general demographic questionnaire, baseline questionnaire, WHO GPAQ for assessment of physical activity, and AROM assessment. Additionally, following one day operating they will complete a SURG-TLX questionnaire, Brief Pain Index (BPI), and a questionnaire regarding how many hours they operated that day and what type of surgeries they performed (Surgery Day Questionnaire).
For participants randomized to the education only group, they will watch a short (5-7 minute) educational video. The video content includes information on why ergonomics is important (preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders, types of injuries, physician longevity) and recommendations for how to ergonomically arrange the operating room to reduce the risk of injury.
For participants randomized to the education plus personal coaching group, they will first watch the same video as described previously. Then they will have four 15 to 20-minute sessions with a physiatrist. These sessions will include a standard assessment with individualized instruction on range of motion, strength, endurance, and flexibility. These sessions will include verbal coaching, instructor demonstration, however no hands-on treatment or intervention will be provided. The sessions will occur at 0 weeks (same day as participant views video), 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks after viewing of the educational video. The first session will be in person, the remainder of the sessions will be virtual.
Post-intervention follow up will begin after the video is viewed by those in the education-only group and after the video is viewed and the first personal coaching session is complete by the education plus coaching group. The first timepoint of post-intervention assessment will be the first operating day after the intervention. Assessments will include SURG-TLX, BPI, and Surgery Day Questionnaire. Two additional post-intervention assessments will be at 2 weeks after initial intervention and 6 weeks after initial intervention. The 6 week timepoint reflects the completion of the personal coaching series for those in that group.
Long-term follow-up assessments will be performed at 3 and 6 months after the initial intervention (week 0). The assessments that will be administered then will include a demographic/general questionnaire, WHO GPAQ, SURG-TLX, BPI, and Surgery Day Questionnaire.
- Conditions
- Musculoskeletal Pain, Work Related Stress, Quality of Life, Grip
- Being tested
- Educational video on ergonomics, Verbal physical therapy coaching sessions
- Medical subject headings
- Musculoskeletal Pain, Occupational Stress
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Educational video on ergonomicsOther
A 6-8 minute education video that includes information on why ergonomics is important and recommendations for how to arrange the operating room to reduce the risk of injury.
Verbal physical therapy coaching sessionsOther
Physical therapy coaching sessions include a standard assessment with individualized instruction on range of motion, strength, endurance, and flexibility.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Education only | Other | This arm only includes a 6-8 minute educational video on ergonomics. Receives: Other: Educational video on ergonomics |
| Education and coaching sessions | Other | This arm includes a 6-8 minute education video on ergonomics and 1:1 15 minute coach sessions at 0, 2, 4, and 6 weeks. Receives: Other: Educational video on ergonomics; Other: Verbal physical therapy coaching sessions |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
To evaluate pain in surgeons after operating.
Surgeons receiving personalized education and a physical activity plan will report less pain (as assessed by the Brief Pain Index). The BPI measures pain on a 0-10 scale with higher scores meaning worse outcomes.
Measured: 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Jul 2023
- Study start25 Sep 2023
- Primary completion7 May 2025
- Study completion7 May 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Musculoskeletal PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 51 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Kimberly Kho, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- Investigators
- Kimberly Kho, MD, Principal investigator, UTSW
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05946018
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STU-2023-0516
- Status last verified
- May 2025
- First submitted
- 6 Jul 2023
- Last updated
- 4 Jun 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Jun 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Physiatrist Ergonomic Intervention on Work Related Musculoskeletal Pain in Surgeons: A Randomized Control Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05946018
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STU-2023-0516
- Conditions
- Musculoskeletal Pain, Work Related Stress, Quality of Life, Grip
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 51 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 25 Sep 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 7 May 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 7 May 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 14 Jul 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this randomized control trial is to learn if physical therapy coaching and education improves work-related muscle pain in surgeons more than education alone. The main focuses of this study are to:
- To evaluate pain in surgeons before and after surgical cases.
- To evaluate work-load related stress in surgeons after surgical cases.
- To evaluate surgeons' quality of life.
- To evaluate surgeons' grip strength.
Participants will be put into two groups at random. One group will watch an educational video only. The other group will watch an educational video and get a coaching session from a physical therapist.
Detailed description
All participants will undergo the same baseline, pre-intervention assessments. Pre-intervention assessments will include several questionnaires: general demographic questionnaire, baseline questionnaire, WHO GPAQ for assessment of physical activity, and AROM assessment. Additionally, following one day operating they will complete a SURG-TLX questionnaire, Brief Pain Index (BPI), and a questionnaire regarding how many hours they operated that day and what type of surgeries they performed (Surgery Day Questionnaire).
For participants randomized to the education only group, they will watch a short (5-7 minute) educational video. The video content includes information on why ergonomics is important (preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders, types of injuries, physician longevity) and recommendations for how to ergonomically arrange the operating room to reduce the risk of injury.
For participants randomized to the education plus personal coaching group, they will first watch the same video as described previously. Then they will have four 15 to 20-minute sessions with a physiatrist. These sessions will include a standard assessment with individualized instruction on range of motion, strength, endurance, and flexibility. These sessions will include verbal coaching, instructor demonstration, however no hands-on treatment or intervention will be provided. The sessions will occur at 0 weeks (same day as participant views video), 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks after viewing of the educational video. The first session will be in person, the remainder of the sessions will be virtual.
Post-intervention follow up will begin after the video is viewed by those in the education-only group and after the video is viewed and the first personal coaching session is complete by the education plus coaching group. The first timepoint of post-intervention assessment will be the first operating day after the intervention. Assessments will include SURG-TLX, BPI, and Surgery Day Questionnaire. Two additional post-intervention assessments will be at 2 weeks after initial intervention and 6 weeks after initial intervention. The 6 week timepoint reflects the completion of the personal coaching series for those in that group.
Long-term follow-up assessments will be performed at 3 and 6 months after the initial intervention (week 0). The assessments that will be administered then will include a demographic/general questionnaire, WHO GPAQ, SURG-TLX, BPI, and Surgery Day Questionnaire.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Education only | Other | Other: Educational video on ergonomicsThis arm only includes a 6-8 minute educational video on ergonomics. |
| Education and coaching sessions | Other | Other: Educational video on ergonomics, Other: Verbal physical therapy coaching sessionsThis arm includes a 6-8 minute education video on ergonomics and 1:1 15 minute coach sessions at 0, 2, 4, and 6 weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Attending/faculty surgeon or surgical trainee (PGY2 or above) in any surgical specialty
- Operates at least one day per week
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Currently under active treatment for a musculoskeletal injury (example: physical therapy)
- Plans to decrease operating time to less than one day per week in the next 6 months
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Educational video on ergonomicsA 6-8 minute education video that includes information on why ergonomics is important and recommendations for how to arrange the operating room to reduce the risk of injury. | Other | Education and coaching sessions, Education only |
| Verbal physical therapy coaching sessionsPhysical therapy coaching sessions include a standard assessment with individualized instruction on range of motion, strength, endurance, and flexibility. | Other | Education and coaching sessions |
Primary outcome
To evaluate pain in surgeons after operating.
Time frame: 6 months
Surgeons receiving personalized education and a physical activity plan will report less pain (as assessed by the Brief Pain Index). The BPI measures pain on a 0-10 scale with higher scores meaning worse outcomes.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Jun 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Kimberly Kho, MD principal investigator
UTSW
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Educational video on ergonomics and Verbal physical therapy coaching sessions in people with Musculoskeletal Pain and Work Related Stress, run by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Jun 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
To evaluate pain in surgeons after operating. (time frame: 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Jun 2025.