Examining the Effectiveness of Ergonomics and Exercise Training in Caregivers

Summary

Family and formal caregivers of partially or fully dependent individuals repeatedly perform physically demanding tasks such as lifting, transferring, repositioning, and hygiene care. These tasks increase biomechanical loading and place caregivers at high risk of musculoskeletal complaints, which in turn increase perceived caregiver burden, burnout, and fatigue. Interventions for this population have most often been limited to information leaflets or theoretical instruction, and the active exercise component has usually been absent. Furthermore, teaching safe transfer techniques alone may be insufficient when caregivers lack the muscle strength, trunk (core) stability, and flexibility required to perform those techniques.

Conditions

• Caregiver Burden
• Caregiver Burnout
• Musculoskeletal Pain

Interventions

OTHER

Ergonomic training

• Description: Structured theoretical and hands-on ergonomic training delivered once a month over the 12-week intervention period (3 sessions in total), face-to-face and/or through synchronous or asynchronous video modules, by a physiotherapist. Content covers biomechanical body mechanics, in-bed positioning, sitting the care recipient up, bed-to-chair transfer techniques, use of assistive devices, and modification of the home environment to protect low back and neck health. Each session lasts approximately 30-45 minutes.

OTHER

Exercise training

• Description: Structured exercise programme delivered 3 sessions per week for 12 weeks (36 sessions in total) as face-to-face supervised practice or video-supported guidance with home exercise monitoring, under the supervision of a physiotherapist. The programme includes postural exercises, core stabilization, trunk and extremity strengthening, stretching, and breathing exercises. Each session lasts approximately 30-45 minutes. Perceived exertion is monitored with the Borg scale and sessions are modified or terminated if adverse symptoms occur.

OTHER

Standard information brochure

• Description: A standard printed brochure covering general health recommendations, the importance of spinal health, and basic principles to observe during routine caregiving, given once after the baseline assessment. Participants are contacted by telephone once a month during the 12-week period to record any change in health status or any new surgery or acute illness; no exercise or ergonomic guidance is provided during these calls. After all assessments are completed, training materials and videos are offered to this group for ethical reasons.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Uskudar University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Muhammet Yusuf Araz · Üsküdar University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

30 Years

Max Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-08-25

Primary Completion

2026-11-30

Completion

2027-01-20