CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 33Occupational Health and Safety in WorkplacesErgonomics and Musculoskeletal DisordersOccupational Health and Safety Management

Participatory intervention with objectively measured physical risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders in the construction industry: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial

Open access
Brandt, Mikkel, Madeleine, Pascal, Ajslev, Jeppe Zielinski Nguyen, Jakobsen, Markus D., Samani, Afshin, Sundstrup, Emil, Kines, Pete, Andersen, Lars L.·2015·BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
DOI 10.1186/s12891-015-0758-0PMC PMC4609136
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is high prevalence of back pain and neck-shoulder pain among blue collar workers in Denmark. Excessive physical exposures such as heavy lifting or working with bended or twisted back are risk factors for back pain among workers in the construction industry. Technical evaluation of awkward postures and kinematics of upper/ lower extremities (accelerometry) during work combined with the level of muscular activity (EMG) and video recordings can improve quantification of physical exposure and thereby can facilitate designing preventive strategies. Participatory ergonomics potentially increase the success of interventions aimed at reducing excessive physical exposures. The objectives of this study are to; 1) determine which work-tasks in selected job-groups involve excessive physical load of the back and shoulders during a normal working day (measured with accelerometers, EMG and video recordings). And 2) investigate whether a participatory intervention can reduce the excessive physical workloads, drawing on measurements from phase 1. METHODS/DESIGN: A two-armed parallel-group, single-blind, cluster randomized controlled trial with allocation concealment will be conducted in the Danish construction industry. Approximately 20 construction gangs (≈ 80 subjects) will be recruited and randomized at the cluster level (gang). We will record in situ physical workload using technical measurements (EMG, accelerometers and video recordings) during a working day before and after the intervention. Based on these measurements a physical load matrix for each worker will be developed. The participatory intervention consist of three workshops: 1) One at baseline, involving presentation of video clips of the work-tasks with excessive physical load customized for each gang, followed by a participatory development of solutions on how to reduce excessive workloads, leading to development of an action plan on how to implement these solutions at the workplace. 2) A second workshop where the implemented solutions will be further developed and qualitatively evaluated during group discussions. 3) A final workshop at follow-up to enhance long-time organizational sustainability of the implemented solutions. DISCUSSION: The results will provide knowledge about the level of physical exposure of the back and shoulders during specific work tasks in the construction industry, and will provide information on options to implement participatory interventions aiming at reducing excessive physical workload. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02498197), registered 29 June 2015.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1186/s12891-015-0758-0

Cites

2 of 2 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Participatory ergonomic interventions optimize physical conditions and foster greater commitment and job satisfaction.

    “Este enfoque participativo no solo optimiza las condiciones corporales, sino que igualmente fomenta un mayor compromiso y satisfacción laboral.”

    From Impact of ergonomics on work performance in the manufacturing industry: A systematic review (2025) · cites this paper as [12]

    The Background (page unavailable) reports reduced physical workload in a prior participatory intervention and says participatory approaches can increase employee ownership and support. It does not report greater job satisfaction. This paper is a study protocol, so it also does not establish that its proposed intervention improved physical conditions. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Studies on ergonomics and work performance use surveys, technical records, and sampling to identify risks and design improvements.

    “Los estudios sobre ergonomía y rendimiento laboral utilizan encuestas para captar la percepción de los trabajadores [12], [17], [23], [30], [35], fichas técnicas para registrar datos del entorno laboral [8], [12], [34] y muestreo para garantizar resultados representativos [28], [34].”

    From Impact of ergonomics on work performance in the manufacturing industry: A systematic review (2025) · cites this paper as [12]

    Methods > Data describes questionnaires about workplace conditions, and Methods > Phase 1 describes technical measurements used to identify excessive physical load and guide improvements. Methods > Study population and Sample size discuss recruitment and generalizability, but do not say sampling guarantees representative results. The paper describes instrument measurements, not technical record sheets for documenting the work environment. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Designing ergonomic workspaces reduces the risk of musculoskeletal injuries (MSDs).

    “Entre las áreas de interés destacadas por las fuentes, se encuentra la importancia de diseñar espacios de trabajo ergonómicos para reducir el riesgo de lesiones musculoesqueléticas (LME) [11], [12], [13], [14], [15].”

    From Impact of ergonomics on work performance in the manufacturing industry: A systematic review (2025) · cites this paper as [12]

    The Background (page unavailable) identifies physical workplace demands as risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders and reports that a participatory intervention reduced physical workload. It does not establish that designing ergonomic workspaces reduces musculoskeletal injuries; this paper is a study protocol, not a report of that outcome. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 47

  1. [1]Morken T Riise T Moen B Hauge SHV Holien S Langedrag A Pedersen S Saue ILL Seljebø GM Thoppil V Low back pain and widespread pain predict sickness absence among industrial workers BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2003 4 21 10.1186/1471-2474-4-21 12956891 PMC200978 · DOI
  2. [2]Van den Heuvel SG Ariëns GAM Boshuizen HC Hoogendoorn WE Bongers PM Prognostic factors related to recurrent low-back pain and sickness absence Scand J Work Environ Health 2004 30 459 467 10.5271/sjweh.835 15633597 · DOI
  3. [3]Nyman T Grooten WJA Wiktorin C Liwing J Norrman L Sickness absence and concurrent low back and neck-shoulder pain: results from the MUSIC-Norrtälje study Eur Spine J 2007 16 631 638 10.1007/s00586-006-0152-6 16741741 PMC2213552 · DOI
  4. [4]Natvig B Eriksen W Bruusgaard D Low back pain as a predictor of long-term work disability Scand J Public Health 2002 30 288 292 10.1080/14034940210133951 12680505 · DOI
  5. [5]Kamaleri Y Natvig B Ihlebaek CM Bruusgaard D Does the number of musculoskeletal pain sites predict work disability? A 14-year prospective study Eur J Pain 2009 13 426 430 10.1016/j.ejpain.2008.05.009 18599328 · DOI
  6. [6]Holmberg SAC Thelin AG Primary care consultation, hospital admission, sick leave and disability pension owing to neck and low back pain: a 12-year prospective cohort study in a rural population BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2006 7 66 10.1186/1471-2474-7-66 16907991 PMC1560131 · DOI
  7. [7]Bergström G Bodin L Bertilsson H Jensen IB Risk factors for new episodes of sick leave due to neck or back pain in a working population. A prospective study with an 18-month and a three-year follow-up Occup Environ Med 2007 64 279 287 10.1136/oem.2006.026583 17095548 PMC2078447 · DOI
  8. [8]Boschman JS van der Molen HF Sluiter JK Frings-Dresen MH Musculoskeletal disorders among construction workers: a one-year follow-up study BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2012 13 196 10.1186/1471-2474-13-196 23061990 PMC3489781 · DOI
  9. [9]Christensen KB Andersen PK Smith-Hansen L Nielsen ML Kristensen TS Analyzing sickness absence with statistical models for survival data Scand J Work Environ Health 2007 33 233 239 10.5271/sjweh.1132 17572833 · DOI
  10. [10]Lund T Labriola M Christensen KB Bültmann U Villadsen E Physical work environment risk factors for long term sickness absence: prospective findings among a cohort of 5357 employees in Denmark BMJ 2006 332 449 452 10.1136/bmj.38731.622975.3A 16446280 PMC1382535 · DOI
  11. [11]Hannerz H Tüchsen F Spangenberg S Albertsen K Industrial differences in disability retirement rates in Denmark, 1996-2000 Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2004 17 465 471 15852761
  12. [12]Ruseckaite R Collie A Repeat workers’ compensation claims: risk factors, costs and work disability BMC Public Health 2011 11 492 10.1186/1471-2458-11-492 21696637 PMC3135538 · DOI
  13. [13]Lipscomb HJ Cameron W Silverstein B Incident and recurrent back injuries among union carpenters Occup Environ Med 2008 65 827 834 10.1136/oem.2008.039222 18611968 · DOI
  14. [14]Wasiak R Kim J Pransky G Work disability and costs caused by recurrence of low back pain: longer and more costly than in first episodes Spine 2006 31 219 225 10.1097/01.brs.0000194774.85971.df 16418644 · DOI
  15. [15]Madeleine P Vangsgaard S Hviid Andersen J Ge H-Y Arendt-Nielsen L Computer work and self-reported variables on anthropometrics, computer usage, work ability, productivity, pain, and physical activity BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2013 14 226 10.1186/1471-2474-14-226 23915209 PMC3751662 · DOI
  16. [16]Wilkie R Pransky G Improving work participation for adults with musculoskeletal conditions Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2012 26 733 742 10.1016/j.berh.2012.08.004 23218435 · DOI
  17. [17]Bernard B. Musculoskeletal disorders and workplace factors: a critical review of epidemiologic evidence for work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, upper extremity, and low back. Washington DC, USA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; 1997.
  18. [18]Boschman JS van der Molen HF Sluiter JK Frings-Dresen MHW Occupational demands and health effects for bricklayers and construction supervisors: a systematic review Am J Ind Med 2011 54 55 77 10.1002/ajim.20899 20886532 · DOI
  19. [19]Burdorf A Sorock G Positive and negative evidence of risk factors for back disorders Scand J Work Environ Health 1997 23 243 256 10.5271/sjweh.217 9322815 · DOI
  20. [20]Punnett L Wegman DH Work-related musculoskeletal disorders: the epidemiologic evidence and the debate J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2004 14 13 23 10.1016/j.jelekin.2003.09.015 14759746 · DOI
  21. [21]Coenen P, Gouttebarge V, van der Burght ASAM, van Dieën JH, Frings-Dresen MHW, van der Beek AJ, et al. The effect of lifting during work on low back pain: a health impact assessment based on a meta-analysis. Occup Environ Med. 2014. 25165395
  22. [23]Andersen LL Mortensen OS Hansen JV Burr H A prospective cohort study on severe pain as a risk factor for long-term sickness absence in blue- and white-collar workers Occup Environ Med 2011 68 590 592 10.1136/oem.2010.056259 21071754 · DOI
  23. [24]Côté P van der Velde G Cassidy JD Carroll LJ Hogg-Johnson S Holm LW Carragee EJ Haldeman S Nordin M Hurwitz EL Guzman J Peloso PM The burden and determinants of neck pain in workers: results of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2009 32 2 Suppl S70 86 10.1016/j.jmpt.2008.11.012 19251078 · DOI
  24. [25]Sterud T Johannessen HA Tynes T Work-related psychosocial and mechanical risk factors for neck/shoulder pain: a 3-year follow-up study of the general working population in Norway Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2014 87 471 481 10.1007/s00420-013-0886-5 23708752 · DOI
  25. [26]Waters TR Lu M-L Piacitelli LA Werren D Deddens JA Efficacy of the revised NIOSH lifting equation to predict risk of low back pain due to manual lifting: expanded cross-sectional analysis J Occup Environ Med 2011 53 1061 1067 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31822cfe5e 21866048 · DOI
  26. [27]Jakobsen MD Sundstrup E Persson R Andersen CH Andersen LL Is Borg’s perceived exertion scale a useful indicator of muscular and cardiovascular load in blue-collar workers with lifting tasks? A cross-sectional workplace study Eur J Appl Physiol 2014 114 425 434 10.1007/s00421-013-2782-9 24337669 PMC3895215 · DOI
  27. [28]Samani A Holtermann A Søgaard K Holtermann A Madeleine P Following ergonomics guidelines decreases physical and cardiovascular workload during cleaning tasks Ergonomics 2012 55 295 307 10.1080/00140139.2011.640945 22409167 · DOI
  28. [30]Skotte J Korshøj M Kristiansen J Hanisch C Holtermann A Detection of physical activity types using triaxial accelerometers J Phys Act Health 2014 11 76 84 10.1123/jpah.2011-0347 23249722 · DOI
  29. [31]Reiman A Pekkala J Väyrynen S Putkonen A Forsman M Participatory video-assisted evaluation of truck drivers’ work outside cab: deliveries in two types of transport Int J Occup Saf Ergon 2014 20 477 489 10.1080/10803548.2014.11077061 25189751 · DOI
  30. [32]Peter P Elin J Katarina K Malin J Differences in cashiers work technique regarding wrist movements when scanning groceries Work 2012 41 Suppl 1 5436 5438 22317577
  31. [33]Forsman M Bernmark E Nilsson B Pousette S Mathiassen SE Participative development of packages in the food industry--evaluation of ergonomics and productivity by objective measurements Work 2012 41 Suppl 1 1751 1755 22316966
  32. [34]Trask C Mathiassen SE Wahlström J Forsman M Cost-efficient assessment of biomechanical exposure in occupational groups, exemplified by posture observation and inclinometry Scand J Work Environ Health 2014 40 252 265 10.5271/sjweh.3416 24469242 · DOI
  33. [36]Van der Molen HF Sluiter JK Hulshof CTJ Vink P Frings-Dresen MHW Effectiveness of measures and implementation strategies in reducing physical work demands due to manual handling at work Scand J Work Environ Health 2005 31 Suppl 2 75 87 16363450
  34. [39]Nielsen K Review Article: How can we make organizational interventions work? Employees and line managers as actively crafting interventions Hum Rel 2013 66 1029 1050 10.1177/0018726713477164 · DOI
  35. [41]Aust B Ducki A Comprehensive health promotion interventions at the workplace: experiences with health circles in Germany J Occup Health Psychol 2004 9 258 270 10.1037/1076-8998.9.3.258 15279520 · DOI
  36. [42]Hanse JJ Forsman M Identification and analysis of unsatisfactory psychosocial work situations: a participatory approach employing video-computer interaction Appl Ergon 2001 32 23 29 10.1016/S0003-6870(00)00057-0 11209828 · DOI
  37. [43]Madeleine P On functional motor adaptations: from the quantification of motor strategies to the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in the neck-shoulder region Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2010 199 Suppl 679 1 46 10.1111/j.1748-1716.2010.02145.x 20579000 · DOI
  38. [44]Moher D Hopewell S Schulz KF Montori V Gøtzsche PC Devereaux PJ Elbourne D Egger M Altman DG Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials Group: CONSORT Explanation and elaboration: updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials J Clin Epidemiol 2010 2010 63 e1 37 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2010.03.004 20346624 · DOI · Paper page
  39. [45]Chan A-W Tetzlaff JM Gøtzsche PC Altman DG Mann H Berlin JA Dickersin K Hróbjartsson A Schulz KF Parulekar WR Krleza-Jeric K Laupacis A Moher D SPIRIT 2013 explanation and elaboration: guidance for protocols of clinical trials BMJ 2013 346 e7586 10.1136/bmj.e7586 23303884 PMC3541470 · DOI · Paper page
  40. [46]Chan A-W Tetzlaff JM Altman DG Laupacis A Gøtzsche PC Krleža-Jerić K Hróbjartsson A Mann H Dickersin K Berlin JA Doré CJ Parulekar WR Summerskill WSM Groves T Schulz KF Sox HC Rockhold FW Rennie D Moher D SPIRIT 2013 statement: defining standard protocol items for clinical trials Ann Intern Med 2013 158 200 207 10.7326/0003-4819-158-3-201302050-00583 23295957 PMC5114123 · DOI · Paper page
  41. [48]Choudhry RM Fang D Mohamed S The nature of safety culture: A survey of the state-of-the-art Saf Sci 2007 45 993 1012 10.1016/j.ssci.2006.09.003 · DOI
  42. [49]Gervais M Good management practice as a means of preventing back disorders in the construction sector Saf Sci 2003 41 77 88 10.1016/S0925-7535(01)00070-4 · DOI
  43. [50]Andersen KS Christensen BH Samani A Madeleine P Between-day reliability of a hand-held dynamometer and surface electromyography recordings during isometric submaximal contractions in different shoulder positions J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2014 24 579 587 10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.05.007 24973304 · DOI
  44. [51]Farina D Madeleine P Graven-Nielsen T Merletti R Arendt-Nielsen L Standardising surface electromyogram recordings for assessment of activity and fatigue in the human upper trapezius muscle Eur J Appl Physiol 2002 86 469 478 10.1007/s00421-001-0574-0 11944093 · DOI
  45. [52]Korshøj M Skotte JH Christiansen CS Mortensen P Kristiansen J Hanisch C Ingebrigtsen J Holtermann A Validity of the Acti4 software using ActiGraph GT3X + accelerometer for recording of arm and upper body inclination in simulated work tasks Ergonomics 2014 57 247 253 10.1080/00140139.2013.869358 24392673 · DOI
  46. [53]Cleland I Kikhia B Nugent C Boytsov A Hallberg J Synnes K McClean S Finlay D Optimal placement of accelerometers for the detection of everyday activities Sens (Basel) 2013 13 9183 9200 10.3390/s130709183 PMC3758644 23867744 · DOI
  47. [55]Lidegaard M Jensen RB Andersen CH Zebis MK Colado JC Wang Y Heilskov-Hansen T Andersen LL Effect of brief daily resistance training on occupational neck/shoulder muscle activity in office workers with chronic pain: randomized controlled trial Biomed Res Int 2013 2013 262386 10.1155/2013/262386 24490152 PMC3892746 · DOI

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Brandt, M., Madeleine, P., Ajslev, J. Z. N., Jakobsen, M. D., Samani, A., Sundstrup, E., Kines, P., & Andersen, L. L.
Affiliations
  • National Research Centre for the Working Environment (DK)
  • Aalborg University (DK)
Corresponding author
Brandt, Mikkel
ORCID
Venue
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2015-10-16
Volume
16
Issue
1
Pages
302-302
ISSN
1471-2474 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s12891-015-0758-0
PMC
PMC4609136
OpenAlex
W2103110842
Cited by
33
References
2
Citations by year
2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 4
FWCI
11.67
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • VBN Forskningsportal (Aalborg Universitet) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • The Danish Council for Independent Research ((DFF – 4092-00320))
  • Arbejdsmiljø og Samarbejdsfonden
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Safety Management
Keywords
participatory ergonomics, musculoskeletal disorders, back pain, neck and shoulder pain, construction workers, physical workload, awkward postures, accelerometry, electromyography, video recording, occupational risk prevention, blue-collar workers
MeSH terms
Back, Denmark, Electromyography, Humans, Musculoskeletal Diseases, Occupational Diseases, Research Design, Risk Factors, Shoulder, Weight-Bearing

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review