Comparison of Supervised and Telehealth Delivery of Worksite Exercise for Prevention of Low Back Pain in Firefighters: A Cluster Randomized Trial. Issue 10 (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mayer, John M.; Lane, Charity L.; Brady, O'Dane; Chen, Henian; Lu, Yuanyuan; Johnson, Brittany V.B.; Dagenais, Simon
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 62:Issue 10(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: exercise -- firefighters -- injuries -- lost work time -- low back pain -- prevention; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001993
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: This study assessed worksite exercise delivered by on-site supervision (supervised) or telehealth to reduce lost work time (LWT) related to low back pain (LBP) in firefighters. Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial assigned 264 career firefighters to supervised ( n = 86) or telehealth ( n = 95) back and core exercises 2×/week for 12 months, or control ( n = 83). Results: 58.0% (153/264) of participants reported LBP and 7.6% (20/264) reported LWT related to LBP (control n = 10, supervised n = 5, telehealth n = 5). Participants in the control group experienced 1.15 times as many hours of LWT as the supervised group, and 5.51 times as many hours of LWT as the telehealth group. Conclusions: Worksite exercise, delivered by on-site supervision or telehealth, can reduce LWT related to LBP in career firefighters.