Could a Feedback Device Help Manage Work-related Shoulder Disorders?
This study investigates whether a feedback device can help reduce shoulder pain and improve function in people with work-related rotator cuff disorders. The device aims to provide real-time information to help workers modify their movements and activities to manage their shoulder pain more effectively.
Key Objective: The trial tests whether a feedback device can help reduce shoulder pain, disability, and improve quality of life in workers with rotator cuff-related shoulder disorders.
Who to Consider: Workers experiencing shoulder pain related to their job, particularly those with rotator cuff problems, should consider enrolling if they want to explore a new device-based approach to managing their symptoms.
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
Work-related shoulder pain is a common problem with significant socio-economic repercussions. The impact of these disorders on workers is considerable, particularly in terms of pain, disability and reduced quality of life. Several occupational factors may explain the onset of these disorders, such as changes in the work environment, physical demands, psychosocial factors specific to the occupational context and the age of workers. The lack of quantitative measurement tools to assess the physical demands of work over an extended period of time is sorely felt. Recently, our team developed a wearable feedback device, similar to a watch worn on the arm, which measures shoulder movements and muscle activity, transforming this real-time data into clinical indicators. These indicators provide immediate feedback to workers, enabling them to better understand the physical demands of their tasks and adapt accordingly. If this device proves effective in reducing physical demands, it could become a valuable tool for guiding workplace assessments and interventions. However, this device has not yet been tested on workers with shoulder pain. For this reason, a two-part pilot study is needed to understand user needs, assess ease of use and the feasibility of implementing the device. The first component will consist of a pilot clinical trial involving 42 workers suffering from shoulder pain, divided into two groups: one group will use the feedback device for 2 weeks, while the other group will continue to work without intervention. The second phase will analyze the experience of participants who have used the device.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Adult (≧ 18 years) employed full-time (minimum of 30 hours per week). 2. Experiencing work-related shoulder disorders (WRSDs), with minimal score of 14 points on the for the abbreviated version of the Disability of the Arm Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (QuickDASH), stemming from a diagnosis of rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP), shoulder osteoarthritis (SOA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) involving the shoulder. 3. Symptoms persisting for more than 6 weeks. Diagnosis-specific criteria: 1. RCRSP: diagnosis requires meeting three positive criteria, including the presence of a painful arc in abduction, a positive Neer sign, Hawkins-Kennedy test, or Jobe Test, pain with resisted humeral external rotation; 2. SOA: diagnosis based on clinical findings (e.g., activity-related pain, reduced range of motion particularly external rotation and function, worsening night/rest pain) and radiologic findings (e.g., osteophytes, joint space narrowing, subchondral sclerosi