Active Pauses for Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevention in Workers

NCT07417527 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: M10_2025_322
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 207
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if short exercise breaks at work can prevent muscle and joint pain in workers. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do strength exercises help workers move better and feel less pain? Are strength exercises better than stretching exercises for worker health? Researchers will compare a strength exercise program to a mobility (stretching) program to see which one works better to improve physical health and work ability. Participants will: Perform short exercise breaks (5 minutes) at their workplace every day for 8 weeks. Attend one supervised session per week to learn the exercises. Complete simple physical tests (like standing up from a chair) and answer surveys about their health at the start and end of the study.

Conditions

Occupational Diseases; Sedentary Behaviors; Prevention; Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)

Keywords

Active Pauses; Workplace Exercise; Strength Training; Stretching; Occupational Health

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• 30-Second Sit-to-Stand Test

  Participants must stand up and sit down as many times as possible from a chair during a 30-second period to assess lower body functional strength.

  Baseline (Week 0), Post-intervention (Week 8), and Follow-up (Week 20).

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Handgrip Strength

  Baseline (Week 0), Post-intervention (Week 8), and Follow-up (Week 20)

• Shoulder Abduction Strength

  Baseline (Week 0), Post-intervention (Week 8), and Follow-up (Week 20)

• Senior Working Life Questionnaire

  Baseline (Week 0), Post-intervention (Week 8), and Follow-up (Week 20)

• Intervention Adherence

  Throughout the 8-week intervention period

Study Arms (2)

Experimental: Strength Training Program

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants perform a strength-based active pause program (5 minutes). It consists of 4 exercises using body weight and elastic bands targeting shoulder, back, and legs. 1 supervised session/week plus daily autonomous practice for 8 weeks

Behavioral: Strength Active Pause

Active Comparator: Mobility and Stretching Program

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants perform a traditional mobility and stretching active pause program (5 minutes). It consists of 12 low-intensity exercises mobilizing main joints. 1 supervised session/week plus daily autonomous practice for 8 weeks.

Behavioral: Mobility Active Pause

Interventions

Strength Active Pause BEHAVIORAL

High-intensity interval training protocol using resistance exercises (elastic bands) performed at the workplace.

Experimental: Strength Training Program

Mobility Active Pause BEHAVIORAL

Standard routine of articular mobility and static stretching exercises performed at the workplace.

Active Comparator: Mobility and Stretching Program

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Active workers.
• Aged 18 years or older.
• Capability to perform vigorous physical exercise.

You may not qualify if:

• Medical contraindications to physical exercise.
• Recent surgery.
• Pregnancy.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU): lead

Study Sites (1)

Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU)

Leioa, Biscay, 48940, Spain

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Musculoskeletal Diseases; Occupational Diseases; Sedentary Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Design

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

Model Details: Quasi-experimental pre-post study with non-randomized intervention groups. Assignment is based on worker preference or work center logistics.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 11, 2026
• First Posted: February 18, 2026
• Study Start: January 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: June 15, 2026
• Study Completion: June 15, 2026
• Last Updated: July 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Locations

ES (1)