The Effects of Compound Exercise on Pain and Musculoskeletal Disorders in Office Workers

Modern office workers are exposed to cardiovascular and metabolic disorders and musculoskeletal disorders due to a long-term sedentary working environment, so it is important to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. As a preventive method for musculoskeletal pain in office workers, flexibility exercise, core exercise, and compound exercise programs can reduce body composition, functional movement, and pain, and effectively improve reduced physical ability and lack of physical activity.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 12-week exercise for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in office workers on body composition, FMS, and SF-MPQ pain scores.

The subjects of the study divided 30 office workers into flexibility exercise groups (n=10), core exercise group (n=10), and compound exercise group (n=10) and proceeded for 12 weeks. The flexibility exercise group consisted of self-myofascial release using a foam roller, static stretching, and dynamic stretching. The core exercise group was a core exercise program to improve the stability and movement of the torso and strengthen the torso, improving balance. It consisted of an accompanying core stabilization exercise.

The results of this study are as follows; 1) Body weight, body fat mass, body mass index, and body fat percentage were reduced in core exercise and compound exercise. 2) The amount of skeletal muscle increased in core exercise. 3) FMS scores increased in flexibility exercise, core exercise, and compound exercise, but the score increased in the order of compound exercise>core exercise>flexibility exercise.

Summarizing the body composition results of the office workers who participated in this study, there were significant differences in body weight, body fat mass, body mass index, and body fat percentage according to the degree of exercise in the core exercise group and the combined exercise group. FMS, SF-MPQ score, and VAS results showed improvement in all three groups, and among them, the combined exercise group had the best score. The complex application of flexibility exercises that promote muscle contraction and relaxation and core exercises consisting of major muscle groups is thought to help reduce body fat and pain in office workers.