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Therapeutic Exercise at the Work Space
Therapeutic Exercise at the Work Space
Start date: Sep 1, 2014,
End date: Aug 31, 2016
PROJECT
FINISHED
Context/background of project: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as neck/back pain or upper limb disorders remain the most common occupational disease in the European Union and workers in all sectors and occupations can be affected. They are also an increasing problem and one of the most important causes of long-term sickness absence. Beside the effects on workers themselves, MSDs may lead to high costs to enterprises and the society as a whole and is related with high socioeconomic consequences in terms of health expenses and loss of working days. While sitting, office workers tend to lean forward or to slouch in the chair. This partial immobilization can cause low back pain or neck pain because static posture increases stress on the back, neck, shoulders, arms and legs. In particular, sitting can add large amounts of pressure to the back muscles, spinal discs and ligaments (Beneka et al, 2014). Therefore, strength and conditioning professionals, athletic trainers, and physical therapists often come across on going or recurrent complaints of neck pain. While the etiology of musculoskeletal pain symptoms is multi-factorial, there is a general consensus about the beneficial effect of therapeutic exercise.
Objectives of the project: The partnership has come together because of the common purpose and belief that health promotion and well-being in the workplace is one of the most pressing problems facing European economies. The common goal and vision amongst the partnership members is that, there needs to be a learning program (focused on transforming ‘ideas into action’ in line with Europe 2020 recommendations) for exercise and health specialists, which will act as a catalyst for their own professional development and that will enhance well-being and quality of life in the Work Space.
Specifically during the activities of the project:
• A total of 6 therapeutic exercise specialists (6 exercise experts -2 physical therapists between them) 2 physicians (across GER, EL, NOR and CY) with significant impact on each individual learner will collaborate with two non-profit organizations, one with impact on enterprises/policy makers (ALBA) and ONE on innovative technologies (IPN). The project contributes to co-operation within and between a variety of professionals (physical therapists, physicians and exercise experts) connecting practices from different thematic areas to impact diffusion at workplaces.
• The joint curriculum program that will be developed and piloted will be incorporated to the existent curriculum of three HEIs in three different countries, with calculated ECTS as a grading scale.
• The 30 learners-participants in the Pilot of the curriculum (ISP and long-term distance teaching) (10 students for each partner organization) will impact on others via a cascade effect of spreading knowledge and learning gained through the program. In this way there will be significant impact on exercise specialists employment in the participating enterprises and thus employment across the EU.
• Similarly, 200 office workers who will use the multimedia application will impact on their colleagues (indirect target group) spreading education and well-being gained through their short participation in the program.
• HR members and Corporate Social Responsibility of 100 enterprises from the public sector will acknowledge that the healthier option is the easier option through the Information Day (Dissemination). A well informed public opinion in combination with the provision of condensed and easily accessible information for all kinds of audiences would lower health costs and foster productivity and work satisfaction of office employees. Easy public access will also bring a wide collection of ‘popularized’ therapeutic exercise information closer to information seekers (neck pain patients office employees), while the wide dissemination of THEWS results will contribute towards a better understanding of THEWS program potential.
The potential longer term benefits: THEWS project is expected to have a long lasting impact on the wide dissemination of THEWS protocol and its integration to office employees’ everyday lives. Rising awareness of CSR and HR members on the serious social impact of musculoskeletal disorders and their socioeconomic consequences, the project expects believe there will be a decrease in absenteeism from work and a considerable reduction of health expenses for neck problems. By educating office employees in implementing THEWS protocol at work, the project aims to instil them that the healthier option is the easier option and at the same time to address one of the most frequent musculoskeletal problems related to loss of working days.