Effects of work gymnastics on teleassistance employees

Abstract

Work gymnastics (WG) is defined as the guided practice of physical exercises at the workplace, aiming at preventing body pains and posture weaknesses, increasing disposition to work, and promoting a greater integration among employees. Thus, the purposes of this study were to evaluate the WG effects on teleassistance employees of a health care insurance service, contributing to the reduction of these employees’ muscular pains and to investigate the difference of WG results when applied by either monitors or physical therapists. Methods: Three questionnaires were employed: Identification; Pain Topography and Intensity; and WG Evaluation, together with employees. Wilcoxon Signed Based Ranks was used for statistical analysis and Microsoft Excel, 2001 was used for the descriptive analysis. Guided practice lasted 15 minutes, 4 times a week for 4 months. The sample consisted of 24 teleassistance employees divided into two groups: morning shift, guided by a monitor (n=10) and afternoon shift, guided by a physical therapist (n=14). Results: Results have shown a significant improvement in pain perception only in the physical therapist-guided group (p=0.034); improvement regarding disposition to work, interaction with coworkers and satisfaction with the company, as well as stress and fatigue reduction were observed in both groups. Conclusion: We conclude that the WG program may be considered an easily implemented low-cost tool with apparently positive results on the health of employees, acting at the primary prevention level.