The Effect of Ergonomics and Exercise Training on Musculoskeletal Disorders in Female Dairy Farmers

NCT07442409 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Uskudar94
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this research is to comparatively examine the effects of ergonomics training and the combined application of ergonomics and structured exercise training on work-related musculoskeletal disorders in female farmers actively engaged in milking.

Conditions

Work-related Injury; Work-related Illness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• 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.

  14 weeks

• QuickDASH

  QuickDASH score of the mobility of the arm, shoulder, hand and its function by using the QuickDASH questionnaire. The QuickDASH is scored in two components: the disability/symptom section (11 items, scored 1-5) and the optional high performance sport/music or work modules (4 items, scored 1-5). A higher score indicates greater disability.

  14 weeks

• Beck Depression Inventory

  The Beck Depression Inventory is a 21-question multiple-choice self-report inventory for measuring the severity of depression. Higher total scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms. The range of scores vary from 0 to 63 (highest possible total) for the whole test. A score of 0 - 10 indicates minimal depression, while a score of over 40 indicates extreme depression. No subscales were used for this outcome.

  14 weeks

• World Health Organization Quality of Life (Brief)

  The World Health Organization Quality of Life brief is a 16 item quality of life scale covering four domains of QOL. Each item is scored from 1-5 with higher response employing a higher quality of life.

  14 weeks

Study Arms (2)

control group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

only the group that will receive ergonomics training

Other: ergonomics

exercise group

EXPERIMENTAL

The group will receive exercises along with ergonomics training.

Other: ergonomics; Other: exercise

Interventions

ergonomics OTHER

The control group will be given standard ergonomics training which includes proper body mechanics, correct working posture and musculoskeletal protection principles during milking.

control group; exercise group

exercise OTHER

The exercise group will receive the same ergonomics training as well as a structured exercise program consisting of stretching, strengthening and posture exercises. The exercise program will be planned to last three days a week for a total of 12 weeks.

exercise group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 25 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Having been actively engaged in farming for at least 5 years
• Being between 25-50 years of age
• Being female
• Having the physical ability to participate in the planned training and exercise program during the study period

You may not qualify if:

• Having any accompanying neurological disease or neurological dysfunction
• Having a history of any musculoskeletal surgery
• Having a serious systemic disease that may prevent the implementation of the study protocol

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Uskudar University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Tatvan

Bitlis, Tatvan, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

Related Publications (3)

• Das B. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in agriculture: Ergonomics risk assessment and its prevention among Indian farmers. Work. 2023;76(1):225-241. doi: 10.3233/WOR-220246.

  PMID: 36806533 BACKGROUND

• Kaewdok T, Sirisawasd S, Taptagaporn S. Agricultural Risk Factors Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Older Farmers in Pathum Thani Province, Thailand. J Agromedicine. 2021 Apr;26(2):185-192. doi: 10.1080/1059924X.2020.1795029. Epub 2020 Jul 31.

  PMID: 32735182 BACKGROUND

• Akbar KA, Try P, Viwattanakulvanid P, Kallawicha K. Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Farmers in the Southeast Asia Region: A Systematic Review. Saf Health Work. 2023 Sep;14(3):243-249. doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2023.05.001. Epub 2023 May 13.

  PMID: 37818214 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Ergonomics; Exercise

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Engineering; Technology, Industry, and Agriculture; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Muharrem AKAR

  Uskudar University

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

Ömer ŞEVGİN

CONTACT

+905069787535; omer.sevgin@uskudar.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assoc.Prof.Dr.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 25, 2026
• First Posted: March 2, 2026
• Study Start: March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 30, 2026
• Last Updated: March 3, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)