Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of a Tele-Education-Based Ergonomic and Hand Exercise Program in Office Workers
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Tele-Education-Based Ergonomic Training and Hand Exercise Program.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Occupational Health. Basic parameters: 18 years — 60 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Turkey (Türkiye)
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
Many office workers spend long hours at desks, which can lead to hand and upper limb problems. These issues may reduce hand strength and affect daily activities and work performance. This study will evaluate whether an online ergonomic training and hand exercise program is practical and helpful for desk-based workers over four weeks. Researchers will measure hand grip strength and fine motor skills before and after the program to assess its potential benefits.
Detailed description
Prolonged desk-based work and increased screen time have been associated with a higher risk of upper extremity musculoskeletal problems, particularly affecting hand function. Reduced grip strength and impaired fine motor skills may negatively influence daily activities and work performance in office workers. Maintaining and improving hand function is therefore an important component of occupational health in this population.
Tele-education-based interventions have gained increasing attention as accessible and scalable approaches to deliver ergonomic training and exercise programs. However, current evidence on online interventions specifically targeting hand function in desk-based workers remains limited.
This study is designed as a single-group pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of a tele-education-based ergonomic training and hand exercise program in office workers. The intervention will be conducted over four weeks and will include online ergonomic education and structured hand exercises delivered under physiotherapist supervision. In addition to supervised sessions, participants will be encouraged to continue the exercises as part of a home-based program.
The feasibility of the program will be explored in terms of its applicability in a remote setting. The potential effects of the intervention on hand function will be examined through changes observed before and after the program. The findings of this study are expected to provide preliminary evidence to inform the design of future controlled trials and contribute to the development of accessible interventions for desk-based workers.
Interventions
- Behavioral Tele-Education-Based Ergonomic Training and Hand Exercise Program
Participants will receive a four-week tele-education-based ergonomic training and hand exercise program. Ergonomic education will be provided once at the beginning of the program through an online session. The exercise program will include supervised sessions conducted by a physiotherapist twice per week, each lasting approximately 40 minutes, focusing on structured hand exercises. Participants will also be instructed to perform the exercises on other days as part of a home-based program. The in
Primary outcome measures
- hand grip strength [Time frame: Baseline and Week 4]
- Fine Motor Skills (Nine-Hole Peg Test) [Time frame: Baseline and Week 4]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Aged between 18 and 60 years
- Working at a desk for at least 5 hours per day
- Having no regular exercise habits
- Not having received prior training related to office ergonomics, hand dexterity, or grip strength
- Working in a desk-based job for at least 1 year
- Willing to participate and providing written informed consen
Exclusion criteria
- History of surgery involving the wrist or hand
- Diagnosis of a neurological disorder
- Inability to maintain regular participation during the training program
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- N/A
- Model
- Single group
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
Study locations
Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center
- Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Faculty of Health Sciences — Istanbul
Publications
- Seron P, Oliveros MJ, Gutierrez-Arias R, Fuentes-Aspe R, Torres-Castro RC, Merino-Osorio C, Nahuelhual P, Inostroza J, Jalil Y, Solano R, Marzuca-Nassr GN, Aguilera-Eguia R, Lavados-Romo P, Soto-Rodriguez FJ, Sabelle C, Villarroel-Silva G, Gomolan P, Huaiquilaf S, Sanchez P. Effectiveness of Telerehabilitation in Physical Therapy: A Rapid Overview. Phys Ther. 2021 Jun 1;101(6):pzab053. doi: 10.109 PMID 33561280
- Shariat A, Cleland JA, Danaee M, Kargarfard M, Sangelaji B, Tamrin SBM. Effects of stretching exercise training and ergonomic modifications on musculoskeletal discomforts of office workers: a randomized controlled trial. Braz J Phys Ther. 2018 Mar-Apr;22(2):144-153. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2017.09.003. Epub 2017 Sep 6. PMID 28939263
- Greggi C, Visconti VV, Albanese M, Gasperini B, Chiavoghilefu A, Prezioso C, Persechino B, Iavicoli S, Gasbarra E, Iundusi R, Tarantino U. Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med. 2024 Jul 6;13(13):3964. doi: 10.3390/jcm13133964. PMID 38999528
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07556081 · IstanbulUC-FTR-BT-01