2018, Volume 10, Issue 4
Workplace exercises. Improvement of postural stability of office workers with spine dysfunctions following a 21-week health training programme
Małgorzata Kałwa1, Bożena Ostrowska2, Urszula Żywień2, Tadeusz Stefaniak1
1Chair of Sports Didactics, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw
2Chair of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw
Author for correspondence: Małgorzata Kałwa; Chair of Sports Didactics, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw; email: malgorzata.kalwa@awf.wroc.pl
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Abstract
Background: The study sought to assess the postural balance of office workers with spine dysfunctions before and after 5-month health training designed to improve postural stability. The essence of the work was also to know the relationship between balance exercises and the changes of spinal pain.
Material and methods: Persons qualified for the study were those who had worked for, at least, 6 years in a sitting position for approximately 8 hrs/day, completed a full training cycle and fulfilled all participation criteria (women, n = 15).
Results: Exercising resulted in improved balance parameters, with attendance at 56% and the task completion rate of 60% in each week. Reduced asymmetry of sensitivity to pressure on paraspinal tissues at C4‒C5 and L3‒L4 was observed, even though the 21-week exercise cycle was insufficient to raise the pain threshold in the study participants.
Conclusions: Multidisciplinary ambulatory rehabilitation (education + health training therapy) mobilises office workers and improves motricity, essential for a safe stable posture. Training reduces spine pain asymmetry in female office workers; however, the 5-month training programme lasting, on average, 35 min. twice a week is too short to reduce spinal pains significantly only by means of exercising.
Key words: office training, postural stability, spine pain prevention