Work-related InjuryNCT07442383
The Effect of Exercise and Ergonomics Training Program on Musculoskeletal Disorders in Teachers
A study testing ergonomics training and Structured exercise program in people with Work-related Injury and Burnout, run by Uskudar University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial tested whether adding a 12-week structured exercise program to ergonomics training improves low back and neck disability, burnout, musculoskeletal symptoms, and pain intensity in schoolteachers with musculoskeletal pain, compared with ergonomics training alone. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 30 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Work-related Injury, Burnout, Neck Pain
- What is being tested?
- ergonomics training and Structured exercise program
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 80 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 10 Apr 2026to 30 Aug 2026
- 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 30 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Teacher working at preschool, primary, middle, or high school level
- Age 30 to 60 years
- At least 5 years of teaching experience
- Musculoskeletal pain lasting at least 3 months
- Pain intensity of at least 3 on a 0-10 Visual Analog Scale
- Able to attend the training and exercise program
Who cannot join
- Serious neurological or orthopedic disease
- Musculoskeletal surgery within the previous 6 months
- Any medical or psychological condition that would prevent exercise
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Exercise and Ergonomics Training Program on Musculoskeletal Disorders in Teachers: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This randomized controlled trial tested whether adding a 12-week structured exercise program to ergonomics training improves low back and neck disability, burnout, musculoskeletal symptoms, and pain intensity in schoolteachers with musculoskeletal pain, compared with ergonomics training alone. Eighty teachers from preschool, primary, middle, and high schools in Tatvan (Bitlis, Türkiye) were stratified by school level and randomized 1:1. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at week 12.
Read the detailed description
All participants attended four individual face-to-face ergonomics training sessions (weeks 1, 4, 8, and 12; 30-45 minutes each) and received a weekly telephone call from the treating physiotherapist about their general condition and adverse events. Participants in the experimental group additionally performed a standardized, largely self-directed exercise program three days a week for 12 weeks (36 sessions of about 45 minutes) after one individual teaching session, using an illustrated guide. The program had three 4-week phases: stretching and postural awareness; added scapular, isometric neck, and trunk extensor strengthening; and added core stabilization. Exercise adherence was self-reported in the weekly calls. Randomization was stratified by school level with an allocation list prepared and held by an independent person. Outcomes were collected by interview by a physiotherapist who was unaware of group allocation.
- Conditions
- Work-related Injury, Burnout, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Occupational Diseases
- Being tested
- ergonomics training, Structured exercise program
- Keywords
- teachers, exerise, ergonomics
- Medical subject headings
- Burnout, Psychological, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Occupational Diseases
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ergonomics trainingBehavioural
Classroom workstation ergonomics, posture awareness, ergonomics of daily teaching tasks, and break strategies; workstation checklist, brochure, and weekly self-monitoring form. Both arms.
Structured exercise programOther
Phase 1 (weeks 1-4): stretching and postural awareness. Phase 2 (weeks 5-8): scapular, isometric neck, and trunk extensor strengthening added. Phase 3 (weeks 9-12): core stabilization added. Low to moderate intensity, body weight only, self-directed with an illustrated guide. Experimental arm only.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Ergonomics training only | Active comparator | Four individual ergonomics training sessions (weeks 1, 4, 8, 12; 30-45 min) and a weekly telephone call. No exercise program. Receives: Behavioral: ergonomics training |
| Ergonomics training plus exercise | Experimental | Four individual ergonomics training sessions (weeks 1, 4, 8, 12; 30-45 min), a weekly telephone call, and a 12-week structured exercise program performed three days a week (about 45 min per session; 36 sessions) after one individual teaching session. Receives: Behavioral: ergonomics training; Other: Structured exercise program |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Oswestry Disability Index
The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a self-completed questionnaire used to assess the level of disability in patients with low back pain. In the current study, the ODI will be used to evaluate the impact of low back pain on patients' daily lives.The survey consists of ten sections focusing on different aspects of daily life, such as pain severity, personal care, weight lifting, walking, sitting, standing, sleep, sexual function, social life, and travel. Each section contains six statements scored from 0 to 5; The first expression is zero, indicating no disability. The scores of all questions are summed and then multiplied by two to obtain an index ranging from 0 to 100. The higher the score, the greater the disability.
Measured: Baseline and week 12
Neck Disability Index
Turkish version; 10 items; score expressed as a percentage from 0 to 100; higher scores indicate greater neck disability.
Measured: Baseline and week 12
Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire
It is a scale used to determine the extent of pain in the musculoskeletal system. The purpose of this questionnaire is to identify and compare pain and complaints in parts of the body. There is an image showing the 9 parts of the body included in the questionnaire. These body parts; neck, shoulders, back, elbows, hands, waist, hips, knees and feet. The respondents are asked whether they have experienced problems such as pain and discomfort in their body parts in the last 12 months, in the last 4 weeks, and on the day of the assessment, and they are asked to mark this as yes or no.
Measured: Baseline and week 12
Change in Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey (MBI-ES) emotional exhaustion.
9 items scored 1 to 5; range 9-45; higher scores indicate greater burnout.
Measured: Baseline and week 12
Change in MBI-ES personal accomplishment
8 items scored 1 to 5; range 8-40; lower scores indicate greater burnout.
Measured: Baseline and week 12
Musculoskeletal symptoms in the previous 7 days (Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire)
Turkish version; presence (yes/no) of ache, pain, or discomfort in nine body regions (neck, shoulders, upper back, elbows, wrists/hands, low back, hips/thighs, knees, ankles/feet) in the previous 7 days; reported as the number of symptomatic regions (0-9) and as prevalence by region.
Measured: Baseline and week 12
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change in pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale)
Current pain in the region identified by the participant as most painful at baseline; 0 (no pain) to 10 (unbearable pain); the same region is rated at week 12.
Measured: Baseline and week 12
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Mar 2026
- Study start10 Apr 2026
- Primary completion30 Aug 2026
- Study completion30 Aug 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Work-related InjuryStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Two-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial with 1:1 allocation, stratified by school level (preschool, primary, middle, high school).
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Uskudar University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Doç.Dr.Ömer Şevgin, Uskudar University
- Investigators
- Muharrem AKAR, Study chair, Uskudar University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07442383
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Uskudar92
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 20 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: De-identified individual participant data underlying the published results, the exercise guide, and the ergonomics brochure are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request after publication.
Publications
Furuta DT, Tebar WR, Beretta VS, Tebar FG, de Carvalho AC, Leoci IC, Delfino LD, Ferrari G, Silva CCM, Christofaro DGD. Analysis of the association between high workload and musculoskeletal pain in public school teachers according to physical activity level. Work. 2024;78(1):111-117. doi: 10.3233/WOR-230474.
PubMed 38393875de Souza JM, Tebar WR, Delfino LD, Tebar FSG, Gobbo LA, Franco M, da Silva CCM, Oliveira CBS, Christofaro DGD. Association of Musculoskeletal Pain With Sedentary Behavior in Public School Teachers: The Role of Habitual Physical Activity. Pain Manag Nurs. 2023 Apr;24(2):196-200. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2022.08.005. Epub 2022 Sep 11.
PubMed 36100514Jahre H, Guddal MH, Grasaas E, Smedbraten K, Riiser K, Pripp AH, Grotle M, Oiestad BE. The Effectiveness of School-Based Interventions on Pain and Disability Outcomes in Adolescents With Persistent Pain. A Systematic Review. Eur J Pain. 2025 Sep;29(8):e70101. doi: 10.1002/ejp.70101.
PubMed 40814866
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Exercise and Ergonomics Training Program on Musculoskeletal Disorders in Teachers: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07442383
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Uskudar92
- Conditions
- Work-related Injury, Burnout, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Occupational Diseases
- Keywords
- teachers, exerise, ergonomics
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Uskudar UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Aug 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 2 Mar 2026 (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.
This randomized controlled trial tested whether adding a 12-week structured exercise program to ergonomics training improves low back and neck disability, burnout, musculoskeletal symptoms, and pain intensity in schoolteachers with musculoskeletal pain, compared with ergonomics training alone. Eighty teachers from preschool, primary, middle, and high schools in Tatvan (Bitlis, Türkiye) were stratified by school level and randomized 1:1. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at week 12.
Detailed description
All participants attended four individual face-to-face ergonomics training sessions (weeks 1, 4, 8, and 12; 30-45 minutes each) and received a weekly telephone call from the treating physiotherapist about their general condition and adverse events. Participants in the experimental group additionally performed a standardized, largely self-directed exercise program three days a week for 12 weeks (36 sessions of about 45 minutes) after one individual teaching session, using an illustrated guide. The program had three 4-week phases: stretching and postural awareness; added scapular, isometric neck, and trunk extensor strengthening; and added core stabilization. Exercise adherence was self-reported in the weekly calls. Randomization was stratified by school level with an allocation list prepared and held by an independent person. Outcomes were collected by interview by a physiotherapist who was unaware of group allocation.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Two-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial with 1:1 allocation, stratified by school level (preschool, primary, middle, high school).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Ergonomics training only | Active comparator | Behavioral: ergonomics trainingFour individual ergonomics training sessions (weeks 1, 4, 8, 12; 30-45 min) and a weekly telephone call. No exercise program. |
| Ergonomics training plus exercise | Experimental | Behavioral: ergonomics training, Other: Structured exercise programFour individual ergonomics training sessions (weeks 1, 4, 8, 12; 30-45 min), a weekly telephone call, and a 12-week structured exercise program performed three days a week (about 45 min per session; 36 sessions) after one individual teaching session. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 30 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Teacher working at preschool, primary, middle, or high school level
- Age 30 to 60 years
- At least 5 years of teaching experience
- Musculoskeletal pain lasting at least 3 months
- Pain intensity of at least 3 on a 0-10 Visual Analog Scale
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Serious neurological or orthopedic disease
- Musculoskeletal surgery within the previous 6 months
- Any medical or psychological condition that would prevent exercise
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 |
|---|---|---|
| ergonomics trainingClassroom workstation ergonomics, posture awareness, ergonomics of daily teaching tasks, and break strategies; workstation checklist, brochure, and weekly self-monitoring form. Both arms. | Behavioural | Ergonomics training only, Ergonomics training plus exercise |
| Structured exercise programPhase 1 (weeks 1-4): stretching and postural awareness. Phase 2 (weeks 5-8): scapular, isometric neck, and trunk extensor strengthening added. Phase 3 (weeks 9-12): core stabilization added. Low to moderate intensity, body weight only, self-directed with an illustrated guide. Experimental arm only. | Other | Ergonomics training plus exercise |
Primary outcome
Oswestry Disability Index
Time frame: Baseline and week 12
The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a self-completed questionnaire used to assess the level of disability in patients with low back pain. In the current study, the ODI will be used to evaluate the impact of low back pain on patients' daily lives.The survey consists of ten sections focusing on different aspects of daily life, such as pain severity, personal care, weight lifting, walking, sitting, standing, sleep, sexual function, social life, and travel. Each section contains six statements scored from 0 to 5; The first expression is zero, indicating no disability. The scores of all questions are summed and then multiplied by two to obtain an index ranging from 0 to 100. The higher the score, the greater the disability.
Neck Disability Index
Time frame: Baseline and week 12
Turkish version; 10 items; score expressed as a percentage from 0 to 100; higher scores indicate greater neck disability.
Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline and week 12
It is a scale used to determine the extent of pain in the musculoskeletal system. The purpose of this questionnaire is to identify and compare pain and complaints in parts of the body. There is an image showing the 9 parts of the body included in the questionnaire. These body parts; neck, shoulders, back, elbows, hands, waist, hips, knees and feet. The respondents are asked whether they have experienced problems such as pain and discomfort in their body parts in the last 12 months, in the last 4 weeks, and on the day of the assessment, and they are asked to mark this as yes or no.
Change in Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey (MBI-ES) emotional exhaustion.
Time frame: Baseline and week 12
9 items scored 1 to 5; range 9-45; higher scores indicate greater burnout.
Change in MBI-ES personal accomplishment
Time frame: Baseline and week 12
8 items scored 1 to 5; range 8-40; lower scores indicate greater burnout.
Musculoskeletal symptoms in the previous 7 days (Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire)
Time frame: Baseline and week 12
Turkish version; presence (yes/no) of ache, pain, or discomfort in nine body regions (neck, shoulders, upper back, elbows, wrists/hands, low back, hips/thighs, knees, ankles/feet) in the previous 7 days; reported as the number of symptomatic regions (0-9) and as prevalence by region.
1 secondary outcome
Change in pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale)
Time frame: Baseline and week 12
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 20 Oct 2026.
- Background: PubMed 38393875Furuta DT, Tebar WR, Beretta VS, Tebar FG, de Carvalho AC, Leoci IC, Delfino LD, Ferrari G, Silva CCM, Christofaro DGD. Analysis of the association between high workload and musculoskeletal pain in public school teachers according to physical activity level. Work. 2024;78(1):111-117. doi: 10.3233/WOR-230474.
- Background: PubMed 36100514de Souza JM, Tebar WR, Delfino LD, Tebar FSG, Gobbo LA, Franco M, da Silva CCM, Oliveira CBS, Christofaro DGD. Association of Musculoskeletal Pain With Sedentary Behavior in Public School Teachers: The Role of Habitual Physical Activity. Pain Manag Nurs. 2023 Apr;24(2):196-200. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2022.08.005. Epub 2022 Sep 11.
- Background: PubMed 40814866Jahre H, Guddal MH, Grasaas E, Smedbraten K, Riiser K, Pripp AH, Grotle M, Oiestad BE. The Effectiveness of School-Based Interventions on Pain and Disability Outcomes in Adolescents With Persistent Pain. A Systematic Review. Eur J Pain. 2025 Sep;29(8):e70101. doi: 10.1002/ejp.70101.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. De-identified individual participant data underlying the published results, the exercise guide, and the ergonomics brochure are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request after publication.
Related trials for Work-related Injury
Recruiting
Cognitive Control Training for Extinction in PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Stress Disorders, Traumatic
Not yet recruiting
Cohesive Bandage Fixation of Pulse Oximeter Probes and Skin Condition in Preterm Neonates
Skin Injury, Premature Birth
Recruiting
Consecutive Occupational Heat Exposure With and Without Overnight Cooling
Body Temperature Changes, Heat Stress
Not yet recruiting
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Attention and Memory
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Patients
Recruiting
Acceptability and Feasibility of Work-Oriented Social-Cognitive Skills Training for Veterans With Serious Mental Illness
Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder
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.
Muharrem AKAR study chair
Uskudar University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing ergonomics training and Structured exercise program in people with Work-related Injury and Burnout, run by Uskudar University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 6 inclusion and 3 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 20 Oct 2026. 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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?
Oswestry Disability Index (time frame: Baseline and week 12). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07442383, which also lists 3 linked publications.
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 20 Oct 2026.