Background: Many lifestyle-related health disorders are influenced by physical activity level and physical function. Health examinations which focus on musculoskeletal function of people who have risk factors for lifestyle-related disorders, combined with person-centered advice based on risk profiles can give people knowledge and guidance to manage their own lifestyle priorities. Aim: To investigate the feasibility of a protocol for a randomized controlled trial (RCT) which will examine the preventive effects of musculoskeletal function examinations and person-centered advice on inactive middle-aged people. Methods: Physically inactive middle-aged people will be invited to participate in a two-part health examination with follow-up after three months in a pilot study. Part 1 is a standard health examination including blood tests and Part 2 is a functional examination of fitness, strength, mobility, balance and posture according to our protocol based on validated tests. The intervention group receives feedback based on both parts of the examination while the control group receives feedback only from Part 1. Physical activity level will be measured objectively with accelerometers at inclusion and follow-up. Expected results: The pilot study is expected to show whether the planned RCT is practically feasible and to give relevant support for the power analysis for a later full-scale RCT. Better understanding of personal physical function and risk factors can facilitate lifestyle decisions on the individual level which can reduce the risk for later ill-health and need of health-care. Preventive interventions may contribute to reduce the ever-increasing level of lifestyle-related ill-health.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
27
Compiliation of risk profile based on fitness, strength, mobility, balance, posture, physical activity level, weight and pain. Advice based on the above and support in goal-setting.
Närhälsan Biskopsgården Health centre
Gothenburg, Sweden
Physical activity level
Mean number of daily minutes in moderate-to-intensive physical activity measured with accelerometers during one week.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Participant feedback
Rating of overall helpfulness of intervention in intervention group on 0 to 5 numerical rating scale ranging between 0=No help at all and 5=Very helpful.
Time frame: Measured at 3-4 month follow-up.
Participant feedback functional tests-Borg inclusion
Rating of difficulty of individual functional tests on the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale, ranging from 6 to 20 with higher levels indicating higher exertion level.
Time frame: Measured at inclusion.
Participant feedback functional tests-Borg follow-up
Rating of difficulty of individual functional tests on the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale, ranging from 6 to 20 with higher levels indicating higher exertion level.
Time frame: Measured at 3-4 month follow-up.
Participant feedback functional tests-instructions
Rating of how understandable the instructions were on a 0 to 5 numerical rating scale where 0 is completely ununderstandable and 5 is very easy to understand.
Time frame: Measured at inclusion.
Participant feedback - descriptive inclusion
Voluntary subjective impressions of the intervention
Time frame: Recorded at inclusion.
Participant feedback - descriptive follow-up
Voluntary subjective impressions of the intervention
Time frame: Recorded at 3-4 month follow-up.
Risk levels
Change in risk levels on the risk profile.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Goal achievement
Proportion of goals set at inclusion achieved.
Time frame: 3-4 month follow-up
Ekblom-Bak fitness test
Measured as VO2-max in ml/kg/min where higher values indicate better fitness level.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
2-minute step test
Measured with number of steps, where higher values indicate better fitness level.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Body mass index
Calculated by weight in kg divided by squared height in meters.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Waist circumference
Measured in centimeters with measuring tape.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Handgrip strength
Measured with Jamar dynamometer, with higher numbers indicating greater strength.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
30-second biceps test
Measured by maximum number of repetitions with 2 kg (women) or 4 kg (men) dumbbell during 30 seconds, with higher numbers indicating greater strength.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Unilateral heel rise test
Measured with maximum number of repetitions per leg, with higher numbers indicating greater strength.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
30-second chair stand test
Measured with maximum number of repetitions during 30 seconds, with higher numbers indicating greater strength.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Plank test
Measured with maximum endurance time, with longer time indicating better trunk strength.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Sorenson's back extension test
Measured with maximum endurance time, with longer time indicating better trunk strength.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Supine bridge test
Measured with maximum endurance time, with longer time indicating better trunk strength.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Stand-on-one-leg eyes-open test
Measured with maximum endurance time, with higher numbers indicating better balance.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Stand-on-one-leg eyes-closed test
Measured with maximum endurance time, with higher numbers indicating better balance.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Sharpened Romberg
Measured with maximum endurance time, with higher numbers indicating better balance.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Functional Reach test
Measured with reach limit in centimeters, with higher numbers indicating better balance.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Lateral Reach test
Measured with reach limit in centimeters, with higher numbers indicating better balance.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Navicular Drop test
Measured as drop distance in millimeters, with higher numbers indicating higher dgree of pronation.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Occiput-to-wall test
Measured as contact or no contact between head and wall.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Patella mobility
Measured as locked or not locked patella in habitual standing position.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Sit-rise test
Measured as points on 0-10 scale, with higher numbers indicating better mobility.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Fingertip-floor test
Measured as distance in centimeters, with higher numbers indicating lower mobility.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Lateral flexion test
Measured as distance in millimeters, with higher numbers indicating better mobility.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Beighton's hypermobility score
Measured on 0 to 9 scale with higher numbers indicating higher level of hypermobility
Time frame: Measured at inclusion.
Number of pain locations
Change in number of pain locations on pain diagram.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Health-related quality of life
Measured with Euroqol-5 dimensions, 5 questions and 0-100 barometer. Higher scores indicate better quality of life.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Self-reported physical activity_SGPALS
Measured with Saltin-Grimby Physical Activity Level Scale (0 to 4 descriptive levels). Higher levels indicate more physically active.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Self-reported physical activity_SNBHW
Measured with the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare's 2 questions on physical activity (choose from 6 descriptive levels of exercise and 7 descriptive levels of daily activity). Higher levels indicate more physically active.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Sedentary time
Measured with the SED-GIH question on time sitting still (7 levels from almost always to never). Higher levels indicate more physically active.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Risk for developing long-term musculoskeletal disorders
Measured with the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (10 questions, max 100 points, higher values indicate increased risk for longterm pain.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Blood pressure
Change in blood pressure.
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
Blood tests
Whether or not acceptable levels of serum cholesterol (3.3 to 6.9mmol/L), triglycerides (0.45 to 2.6 mmol/L), LDL-cholesterol (1.4 to 4.7 mmol/L), HDL cholesterol (women 1.0 to 2.7 and men 0.80 to 2.1 mmol/L) and blood glucose (4.0 to 6.0 mmol/L).
Time frame: Change between inclusion and 3-4 month follow-up.
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