Field and Home Exercise Program for Improving Function in Iraqi Rural Women

Summary

This study evaluates a 12-week Combined Rehabilitation Program (CRP) designed to reduce musculoskeletal pain and improve physical function among rural women in northern Iraq. The program integrates home-based therapeutic exercises with simple, culturally appropriate games. Sixty-six women from the Hamdaniya district, all with nearly two decades of experience in agricultural labor and chronic musculoskeletal pain in the back, neck, and limbs, participated voluntarily.

The intervention includes two supervised group sessions per week at a local sports field and remote home-based sessions guided via pre-recorded videos shared through WhatsApp. Each session lasts 45 to 60 minutes and incorporates rest periods. The program is designed to strengthen weakened muscles, improve daily function, and promote social engagement among participants.

Rural women engaged in long-term agricultural labor are at increased risk of chronic musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the back, neck, and limbs.

What is already known on this subject:

* Rural women engaged in long-term agricultural labor are at increased risk of chronic musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the back, neck, and limbs.
* Home-based therapeutic exercises are widely used to manage pain and improve physical function.
* Community-based rehabilitation programs can support better health outcomes in underserved populations.

What this study adds:

* Introduces a culturally adapted Combined Rehabilitation Program (CRP) that blends home-based exercises with traditional games in a rural Iraqi context.
* Explores the feasibility of delivering rehabilitation through low-cost mobile technology in resource-limited environments.
* Provides a community-based model for accessible, flexible rehabilitation tailored to the needs of rural women.

Conditions

• Chronic Pain
• Rural Health
• Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Combined Exercise

Participants engaged in a hybrid exercise program that included: In-field sessions held twice weekly at a local sports facility (45-60 minutes per session, including rest). Remote sessions delivered via pre-recorded videos through WhatsApp, with ongoing monitoring and feedback. Exercises included walking, jogging, full-body stretching, and strength training targeting the trunk, limbs, and weak muscle groups (shoulders, back, knees). The program aimed to reduce joint and muscle pain, improve strength and flexibility, and support daily functional activities. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included muscle strength (via hand dynamometer), flexibility tests, BMI, and self-reported pain using the NRS-11 scale.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Mosul

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Munib Fathe · University of Mosul

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

57 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-06-05

Primary Completion

2024-10-15

Completion

2024-11-07

Countries

• Iraq

Study Locations