Effects of the Workplace Health Promotion Activities Soccer and Zumba on Muscle Pain, Work Ability and Perceived Physical Exertion among Female Hospital Employees

Objectives This 40-week workplace physical training RCT investigated the effect of soccer and Zumba, respectively, on muscle pain intensity and duration, work ability, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) during work among female hospital employees. Methods 107 hospital employees were cluster-randomized into two training groups, and a control group. The training was conducted outside working hours as two-three 1-h sessions per week for the first 12 weeks, and continued as one-two 1-h sessions per week for the last 28 weeks. Muscle pain intensity and duration, work ability, and RPE during work were measured at baseline and after 12 and 40 weeks. Results After 12 weeks, both the soccer (−1.9, 95% CI, −3.0, −0.8, P = 0.001) and the Zumba group (−1.3, 95% CI, −2.3, −0.3, P = 0.01) reduced the pain intensity (on a scale from 0 to 10) in the neck-shoulder region (eta squared = 0.109), whereas only the soccer group (−1.9, 95% CI, −3.2, −0.7, P = 0.002, eta squared = 0.092) showed a reduction after 40 weeks referencing the control group. After 40 weeks, both the soccer (-16.4 days, 95% CI, −29.6, −3.2, P<0.02) and the Zumba group (-16.6 days, 95% CI, −28.9, −4.2, P<0.01) reduced the pain duration during the past 3 months in the neck-shoulder region (eta squared = 0.077). No significant effects on intensity or duration of pain in the lower back, RPE during work or work ability were found. Conclusions The present study indicates that workplace initiated soccer and Zumba training improve neck-shoulder pain intensity as well as duration among female hospital employees. Trial Registration International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number Register ISRCTN 61986892.


A. Background and Purpose
Project description by the Project Manager: At the University of Copenhagen previous studies have shown that soccer is more health beneficial compared with for example running and strength training. In this study, we want to conduct an intervention study among a working population in Bodø, i.e. 12-week training period of soccer and the Latin-inspired dance fitness Zumba, respectively. The different training groups will be tested for physiological parameters before and after the training period in order to compare the effects of the two training forms. In addition to the two intervention groups we will establish a control group who will only participate in the tests. Furthermore, we wish to highlight experiences that occur among employees through participation in training activities outside working hours.

B. Research Data
New health information: Yes Specify the types of health information: VO2 measurements, body fat percentage, bone density, blood samples (lipids-/lactate measurements), blood pressure measurements Human biological material: Yes Data collection: The material will be collected during the project period.

C. Research Methods
The project is: Both quantitative and qualitative Intervention: Yes Clinical examination: Yes Questionnaire: Yes Interview: Yes Audio recording: Yes Observation: Yes Film / Video: Yes Photograph: Yes

Academic and scientific justification for the choice of method:
In an activity-theoretical perspective, one can see any phenomenon from a quantitative and a qualitative conditions (Marx , 2008). In this study, we want to use both quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative data has its own form of knowledge, and often expressed in proportional sizes. They reproduce a greatly reduced relationship that exist in reality, but are not irrelevant. It is possible to understand that a man is subjected to a special controllable physical activity may have changed his muscle mass and oxygen consumption for given conditions. However, it is not possible to deduce from this that the wellness increases. This requires a qualitative approach. In the qualitative approach, the quantitative data lie in the background. The qualitative study will be looked at how physical activity turns out, and is expressed by the participants themselves. It is their experience -and the researchers' understanding of it, that gets attention. For a coach, we assume that both of these conditions are important to understand. The quantitative data provides some facts about the effects that come out of these activities, but provides no deeper understanding of what they actually represent. In this study, we will try to look at the activities from a phenomenological perspective, and attempt to create understanding (from my position as coach) by reflections upon my observations. We will divide this work into three phases: Phase 1: The initial phase (before intervention). Method: Interview. In this phase we will randomly select 5-6 subjects from each intervention group to interview.
Phase 2: Intermediate phase (during the intervention). Method: Questionnaire and field interviews. Subjects will initial to the training be given a questionnaire consisting of four new closed questions which are prepared on the basis of field interviews in the previous exercise. During the training sessions, I will conduct field interviews with 2-4 subjects who are based in spontaneous situations that arise.
Phase 3: The final phase (after intervention). Method: Interview. The same subjects who were interviewed in Phase 1 will at this stage be invited to a new interview, which will focus on the experience and lessons learned through participation in the respective intervention groups.
The quantitative data will be conducted in a controlled, cluster -randomized design, in which groups of employees who have a work community, e.g. the same working hours, will be drawn randomly to one of three exercise groups; Group 1: Soccer (3 x 60 min) -30 people playing soccer 2 x 30 minutes three sessions per week for 12 weeks. The soccer training will be organized by dividing into teams consisting of 4-8 players, and will be played on small courts either outside or inside. The training intensity is measured with heart rate monitors and movements registered by GPS or time-motion .