Work 24 (2005) 171-182 The implementation of motor learning principles in designing prevention programs at work

Abstract. Occupational therapy practitioners offer services to workers in the workplace to prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), to help the injured worker restore function, and to recover capacities needed to return to the job. Despite the existence of some evidence about the efficacy of prevention programs, there is uncertainty and even disagreement among health professionals, about the outcome of prevention programs for people with MSDs. It is proposed that principles of motor learning can assist the therapist in structuring prevention programs to facilitate the workers learning of correct movement patterns. This paper discusses basic concepts of motor learning emphasizing characteristics of the learner, the type of task, the structure of practice and application to prevention programs at work settings. We present a four-stage model for prevention programs based on principles of both motor learning and ergonomics. This model coincides with the broad perspective suggested in current occupational therapy models which focuses on the person, the environment, the occupation and their effects on occupational performance

Enhancing Occupational Therapy Students' Knowledge, Competence, Awareness, and Interest in Accessibility

Objective/Background: The purpose of this study was to assess whether the incorporation of an environmental assessment for accessibility, as part of an “Activity Analysis” course, would enhance new students' knowledge, competence, awareness, and interest in accessibility issues for people with disabilities. Methods: In this research, we included an out-of-class training of environmental assessment for accessibility. One hundred and two 1st-year occupational therapy students at Tel Aviv University participated in this research. Of the 102 participants, 56 experienced the training and 46 did not but attended the regular Activity Analysis course. The students explored a typical community environment, during which a specific checklist was used for assessing levels of accessibility. The “Accessibility-Knowledge Competence Awareness and Interests” questionnaire was administered before and after the course to both groups. Results: Students who participated in the out-of-class training showed significant increases in their knowledge, competence, and partial awareness of accessibility and also had better grades in two separate courses that required knowledge of accessibility. There was no significant difference in the results of the Accessibility-Knowledge Competence Awareness and Interests before and after the Activity Analysis course in the control group. Conclusion: The findings of the current study support the contribution of teaching 1st-year occupational therapy students the principles and practices of accessibility for people with disabilities, by improving their knowledge and level of competence at this early stage of their professional lives. Further studies are needed, however, to determine the optimal course of implementation in order to enhance awareness and interest in the subject of accessibility

Effects of aquatic exercise program versus on-land exercise program on cancer-related fatigue, neuropathy, activity and participation, quality of life, and return to work for cancer patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Exercise has shown positive effects on fatigue, exhaustion, neuropathy, and quality of life in cancer patients. While on-land exercises have been studied, the aquatic environment offers unique advantages. Water's density and viscosity provide resistance, enhancing muscle strength, while hydrostatic pressure improves venous return. This trial aims to investigate the effect of aquatic exercises on time to return to work, work hours, work-related difficulties, daily life activity and participation, quality of life, exhaustion, fatigue, and neuropathy among cancer patients, compared to on-land exercise intervention group and a non-exercise group. Methods This randomized controlled trial will include 150 cancer patients aged 18–65 years with stage III colon cancer or breast cancer patients with lymph node involvement. Participants in the aquatic exercise intervention group will undergo an 8-week, twice-weekly group-based Ai-Chi program, while the on-land exercise group will perform identical exercise. The control group will not engage in any exercise. The primary outcome will be assessed using an employment barriers questionnaire, capturing return to work date and working hours and daily life participation and activity and quality of life. Secondary outcomes include exhaustion, fatigue, and neuropathy. Data will be collected at baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), and at 3,12, and 24 months. Mixed variance analyses will explore relationships among groups and over time for independent variables, with separate analyses for each dependent variable. Discussion The potential benefits include an earlier return to work for patients, reducing their need for social and economic support. The study's implications on socio-economic policies are noteworthy, as a successful intervention could offer a cost-effective and non-invasive solution, improving patients' quality of life and increasing their participation in daily activities. This, in turn, could lead to a faster return to work, contributing to both personal well-being and broader societal interests by reducing reliance on social services. Trial registration The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05427344 (22 June 2022)

Key Strike Forces and Their Relation to High Level of Musculoskeletal Symptoms

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relation between key strike forces and musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS). Moreover, this study presents a key strike force measurement method to be used in a workplace setting. The correlation between key strike force characteristics and MSS was previously studied, but the measurement methods used either a single-key switch or force platforms applied under the keyboard. Most of the studies were conducted in a laboratory setting. The uniqueness of measurement methods in the current study is their ability to measure forces applied to a specific key in a workplace setting and to provide more information about specific key strike forces during typing. Methods: Twenty-four healthy computer workers were recruited for the study. The demographic questionnaire, and self-reported questionnaires for psychosocial status (General Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work) and for detecting MSS were filled up, which later helped in dividing the participants into two groups (12 participants with pain and 12 without pain). Participants typed a predetermined text that utilized the instrumented keys multiple times. The dynamic forces applied to the keys were recorded and collected, using four thin and flexible force sensors attached to the preselected keys according to their location. Results: The results demonstrated that participants with high levels of MSS, specifically in the back and neck, in the last year exerted significantly higher key strike forces than those with lower levels of symptoms (p<0.005). Conclusion: The key strike force exerted while typing on a keyboard may be a risk factor for MSS, and should therefore be considered in ergonomic evaluations and interventional programs

Transition to Labor Market among Young Adults with Serious Mental Illness

Background: The research on job attainment and retention among young adults with serious mental illness (SMI) is limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the contributions of emotional, cognitive, motor, demographic, and work-related factors to the transition into supported employment (SE) and retention. Methods: This cross-sectional study included young adults with SMI involved in prevocational (N = 21) services or those who have transferred to SE (N = 21) following prevocational services. Work-related self-efficacy, executive functions, and motor skills were approached with standard and well-established tools. Results: There was a significant difference between groups in most dimensions of work-related self-efficacy, job history and experience, cognitive strategies, and general independence in daily life. The multivariate analysis demonstrates that holding a profession, experiencing self-efficacy in general work skills, cognitive strategies, and independence in living situations explained the between-group differences (&chi;2(4) = 34.62, p &lt; 0.001; correct classification&ndash;90.2%). Conclusions: The study identifies the factors contributing to a sustainable transition to employment among young adults with SMI, suggesting the importance of a comprehensive approach to address a range of personal factors in an integrative way. The augmentation of prevocational training with continued employment support may be beneficial to meet the unique needs of young adults with SMI

Upper Limb Kinematics of Handwriting among Children with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder

Background: Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) often experience difficulties with handwriting legibility and speed. This study investigates the relationship between handwriting and upper limb kinematics to characterize movement patterns of children with DCD and typically developing (TD) children. Methods: 30 children with and without DCD matched for age, gender, and parent education were compared across handwriting abilities using a standardized handwriting assessment of both copied and dictated tasks (A-A Handwriting). The 3D motion capture system (Qualysis) was used to analyze upper limb kinematics and characterize movement patterns during handwriting and contrasted with written output. Results: Children with DCD wrote fewer legible letters in both copying and dictation. Children with DCD also showed poor automatization of key writing concepts. Atypical wrist postures were associated with reduced legibility for children with DCD (F (1,27) 4.71, p = 0.04, p-η2 = 0.15); whereas for TD children, better legibility was associated with greater variations in movement speed, particularly of the wrist (rho = −0.578, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Results reflect different movement parameters influencing handwriting in children with DCD. An improved understanding of the movement characteristics during handwriting of these children may assist intervention design

Unemployment Risk and Decreased Income Two and Four Years After Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis: A Population-Based Study

Thyroid cancer (TC) often occurs in relatively young patients and has a high cure rate. However, decreased psychological and physical well-being may reduce the work capability of patients with TC. This study aimed to compare the risk for unemployment and decreased income in TC survivors with a matched non-cancer group at two and four years after diagnosis. The study also aimed to predict unemployment and income changes at two and four years after diagnosis. A historical prospective study design was used, with cohort inception and baseline measurements drawn from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics 1995 National Census, with follow-up until 2011. Cancer incidence was obtained from the Israel Cancer Registry, and employment status from the Tax Authority. A matched group was sampled from the census population. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to assess odds ratios (OR) for the study outcomes, controlled for age, sex, ethnicity, education years, socioeconomic position, and employment status at two years before diagnosis. In total, 417 cases of TC and 1277 non-cancer matched subjects were included in the study. People who died during the study period were excluded. The mean age at the time of cancer diagnosis was 43.5 years in the TC group and 43.8 years in the control group (p = 0.6). After adjusting for potential confounders, a positive association was found between TC and risk of unemployment two years after diagnosis (OR = 1.46 [confidence interval (CI) 1.09-1.95]), and decreased income two years after diagnosis (OR = 1.61 [CI 1.23-2.01]) and four years after diagnosis (OR = 1.63 [CI 1.25-2.13]). The association between TC and unemployment at four years after diagnosis weakened and lost significance (OR = 1.30 [CI 0.98-1.72]). TC survivorship was associated with unemployment at two years and decreased income at two and four years after diagnosis. Decreased income may be a marker for a shift to part-time work rather than a return to full-time work. The findings suggest that interventions to enhance the return to full-time work are needed in this populatio

Additional file 1 of Effects of aquatic exercise program versus on-land exercise program on cancer-related fatigue, neuropathy, activity and participation, quality of life, and return to work for cancer patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Additional file 1