Physiatrist Ergonomic Intervention on Work Related Musculoskeletal Pain in Surgeons

NCT05946018 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: STU-2023-0516
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 51
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief 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. 1.To evaluate pain in surgeons before and after surgical cases.
2. 2.To evaluate work-load related stress in surgeons after surgical cases.
3. 3.To evaluate surgeons' quality of life.
4. 4.To evaluate surgeons' grip strength.

Conditions

Musculoskeletal Pain; Work Related Stress; Quality of Life; Grip

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• 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.

  6 months

Study Arms (2)

Education only

OTHER

This arm only includes a 6-8 minute educational video on ergonomics.

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.

Other: Educational video on ergonomics; Other: Verbal physical therapy coaching sessions

Interventions

Educational video on ergonomics OTHER

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.

Education and coaching sessions; Education only

Verbal physical therapy coaching sessions OTHER

Physical therapy coaching sessions include a standard assessment with individualized instruction on range of motion, strength, endurance, and flexibility.

Education and coaching sessions

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Attending/faculty surgeon or surgical trainee (PGY2 or above) in any surgical specialty
• Operates at least one day per week

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center: lead

Study Sites (1)

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Musculoskeletal Pain; Occupational Stress

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Occupational Diseases; Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Kimberly Kho, MD

  UTSW

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: MD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 6, 2023
• First Posted: July 14, 2023
• Study Start: September 25, 2023
• Primary Completion: May 7, 2025
• Study Completion: May 7, 2025
• Last Updated: June 4, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)