On the move: understanding home care workers' experiences of using various modes of transportation at work in an occupational health perspective.

Background: The demand for home care workers (HCWs) is increasing, but home care services face challenges in recruiting and retaining skilled workers, partly due to hazards in the work environment. Transportation to client visits is an important part of HCWs' working conditions, with various modes (e.g.

Validity of the Ekblom-Bak Cycle Ergometer Test in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease.

Objective: To assess the validity of the Ekblom-Bak cycle ergometer test in patients with cardiovascular disease admitted to cardiac rehabilitation.

Methods: Estimated peak oxygen consumption from the Ekblom-Bak test was compared with directly measured peak oxygen consumption from a treadmill cardiopulmonary exercise test. Patients completed the cardiopulmonary exercise test first, followed by the Ekblom-Bak test after 24 h rest.

Efficacy of Supersets Versus Traditional Sets in Whole-Body Multiple-Joint Resistance Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Iversen, VM, Eide, VB, Unhjem, BJ, and Fimland, MS. Efficacy of supersets versus traditional sets in whole-body multiple-joint resistance training: A randomized controlled trial. J Strength Cond Res 38(8): 1372-1378, 2024-Time constraints often hinder exercise engagement, necessitating exploration of time-efficient resistance training methods.

Is patients' activities of daily living self-care score in Norwegian home care a proxy for workers standing at work?

Background: Prolonged standing at work may contribute to increased risk of musculoskeletal pain in home care workers. Patients' activities of daily living (ADL) score may be a proxy for home care workers' standing time at work. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association between patients' ADL self-care score, and workers standing time.

Effects of Inpatient Occupational Rehabilitation vs. Outpatient Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Sick Leave and Cost of Lost Production: 7-Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Previously, we reported that an inpatient multimodal occupational rehabilitation program (I-MORE) was more effective than outpatient Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (O-ACT) in reducing sickness absence and was cost-effective over a 24-month period. Here we present 7-years of follow-up on sick leave and the cost of lost production.

Methods: We randomized individuals aged 18-60, sick-listed due to musculoskeletal or mental health disorders to I-MORE (n = 82) or O-ACT (n = 79).

Association between musculoskeletal pain and exposures to awkward postures during work: a compositional analysis approach.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the association between arm elevation and neck/shoulder pain, and trunk forwarding bending and low back pain among home care workers.

Methods: Home care workers (N = 116) from 11 home care units in Trondheim, Norway, filled in pain assessment and working hours questionnaire, and wore 3 accelerometers for up to 7 consecutive days. Work time was partitioned into upright awkward posture, nonawkward posture, and nonupright time, i.

Inpatient multimodal rehabilitation and the role of pain intensity and mental distress on return-to-work: causal mediation analyses of a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Studies suggest that symptom reduction is not necessary for improved return-to-work after occupational rehabilitation programmes. This secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial examined whether pain intensity and mental distress mediate the effect of an inpatient programme on sustainable return-to-work.

Methods: The randomized controlled trial compared inpatient multimodal occupational rehabilitation (n = 82) with outpatient acceptance and commitment therapy (n = 79) in patients sick-listed due to musculoskeletal and mental health complaints.

Occupational physical activity and risk of mortality in women and men: the Tromsø Study 1986-2021.

Objective: Associations between occupational physical activity (OPA) and mortality risks are inconclusive. We aimed to examine associations between (1) OPA separately and (2) jointly with leisure time physical activity (LTPA), and risk of all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality, over four decades with updated exposure and covariates every 6-8 years.

Methods: Adults aged 20-65 years from the Tromsø Study surveys Tromsø3-Tromsø7 (1986-2016) were included.

Can home care work be organized to promote health among the workers while maintaining productivity? An investigation into stakeholders' perspectives on organizational work redesign concepts based on the Goldilocks Work principles.

Background: Due to the aging population, the need for home care services is increasing in most Western countries, including Norway. However, the highly physical nature of this job could contribute to make recruiting and retaining qualified home care workers (HCWs) challenging. This issue may be overcome by adopting the Goldilocks Work principles, aiming at promoting workers' physical health by determining a "just right" balance between work demands and recovery periods while maintaining productivity.

Physical Work Demands of Maintenance Workers on Onshore Petroleum Facilities in Norway: An Observational Study Utilizing Wearable Sensor Technology.

Objectives: High physical work demands can cause musculoskeletal disorders and sick leave in petroleum workers. However, our knowledge of their physical work demands is scarce and based on self-report. The objective of our study is to work towards closing this knowledge gap by assessing the physical work demands of onshore petroleum maintenance workers using body-worn sensors.

Economic Evaluation of Inpatient Multimodal Occupational Rehabilitation vs. Outpatient Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Sick-Listed Workers with Musculoskeletal- or Common Mental Disorders.

Purpose: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit of inpatient multimodal occupational rehabilitation (I-MORE) compared to outpatient acceptance and commitment therapy (O-ACT) for individuals sick listed due to musculoskeletal- or common mental disorders during two-years of follow-up.

Methods: We conducted an economic evaluation with a societal perspective alongside a randomized controlled trial with 24 months follow-up. Individuals sick listed 2 to 12 months were randomized to I-MORE (n = 85) or O-ACT (n = 79).

Can home care work be organized to promote musculoskeletal health for workers? Study protocol for the Norwegian GoldiCare cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: Home care workers perform physically strenuous tasks, in particular when handling patients with high care demands. Thus, musculoskeletal pain and sick leave is greater in this group than in the general population. To ease these issues, we will implement a Goldilocks Work intervention (GoldiCare), redistributing schedules between workers to achieve a "just right" weekly structure of physical work that can promote health.

Effects of one long vs. two short resistance training sessions on training volume and affective responses in resistance-trained women.

The aim of this study was to compare the acute effects of performing a lower body resistance training program in one long or two shorter sessions in 1 day on training volume and affective measures. Employing a randomized-crossover design, 23 resistance-trained women (22 ± 2 years, 166 ± 6 cm, and 66.4 ± 7.

Assessment of Physical Work Demands of Home Care Workers in Norway: An Observational Study Using Wearable Sensor Technology.

Objectives: High physical work demands are believed to be partly responsible for the high sickness absence among home care workers, but no studies have assessed their physical work demands using precise device-based measurements. Hence, the objective of this observational study was to assess physical work demands in home care, using wearable sensors.

Methods: From six home care units in a large municipality in Norway, 114 of 195 eligible home care workers filled in a questionnaire, a diary about work hours, and wore five accelerometers, and a heart rate sensor for up to six consecutive workdays.

A Comparison of Affective Responses Between Time Efficient and Traditional Resistance Training.

The aim of the study was to compare the acute effects of traditional resistance training and superset training on training duration, training volume and different perceptive measures. Twenty-nine resistance-trained participants (27 ± 7 years, 173 ± 9 cm, and 70 ± 14 kg) performed a whole-body workout (i) traditionally and (ii) as supersets of exercises targeting different muscle groups, in a randomized-crossover design. Each session was separated by 4-7 days, and consisted of eight exercises and three sets to failure.

Effects of barbell load on kinematics, kinetics, and myoelectric activity in back squats.

Shortly after beginning the upward phase of a free-weight barbell back squat there is often a deacceleration phase (sticking region) that may lead to repetition failure. The cause for this region is not well understood. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of 90%, 100%, and 102% of 1-RM barbell loads on kinematics, kinetics, and myoelectric activity in back squats.

A randomized trial on the efficacy of split-body versus full-body resistance training in non-resistance trained women.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a 12-week upper/lower split- versus a full-body resistance training program on maximal strength, muscle mass and explosive characteristics. Fifty resistance untrained women were pair-matched according to baseline strength and randomized to either a full-body (FB) routine that trained all of the major muscle groups in one session twice per week, or a split-body program (SPLIT) that performed 4 weekly sessions (2 upper body and 2 lower body). Both groups performed the same exercises and weekly number of sets and repetitions.

Muscle Strength Is Associated With Physical Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Receiving Home Care. A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Higher maximal- and explosive strength is associated with better physical function among older adults. Although the relationship between isometric maximal strength and physical function has been examined, few studies have included measures of isometric rate of force development (RFD) as a measure of explosive strength. Furthermore, little is known about the oldest old (>80 years), especially individuals who receive home care and use mobility devices.

The Readiness for Return to Work Scale; Does it Help in Evaluation of Return to Work?

Purpose The Readiness for Return to Work (RRTW) scale is used to evaluate workers' readiness to resume work after sick leave. Previous research has questioned the RRTW scale's constructs and stages. The aim of this study was to assess the unidimensionality of the RRTW scale and its six subscales by evaluating its fit to the Rasch model, and furthermore to assess if Rasch-based scaling would improve its predictive value, compared with the conventional use of the scale.

Insomnia is Associated with the Effect of Inpatient Multimodal Occupational Rehabilitation on Work Participation in Workers with Musculoskeletal or Mental Health Disorders: Secondary Analyses of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Study Objectives: Insomnia is common among people with musculoskeletal and/or mental health disorders. This study aimed to assess whether insomnia is associated with the favorable effect from inpatient multimodal occupational rehabilitation on future work participation among individuals with these conditions.

Methods: Insomnia was measured at baseline through a randomized clinical trial that compared the effect of inpatient multimodal occupational rehabilitation with a less-comprehensive program of outpatient acceptance and commitment therapy on future work participation.

Aligning stakeholders' understandings of the return-to-work process: a qualitative study on workplace meetings in inpatient multimodal occupational rehabilitation.

: Although it is believed that involving the workplace and stakeholders in return-to-work interventions is beneficial, Norwegian occupational rehabilitation programmes rarely do. During 2015-2016, Hysnes Rehabilitation Centre provided inpatient multimodal occupational rehabilitation, including workplace meetings with employees, supervisors, and rehabilitation therapists. This study aims to explore the meetings´ content and stakeholders´ experiences.

Physical Activity Level Following Resistance Training in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Receiving Home Care: Results from a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Older adults' physical activity (PA) is low. We examined whether eight months of resistance training increased PA level in community-dwelling older adults receiving home care. A two-armed cluster-randomized trial using parallel groups was conducted.

The bidirectional associations between leisure time physical activity change and body mass index gain. The Tromsø Study 1974-2016.

Objectives: To examine whether leisure time physical activity changes predict subsequent body mass index (BMI) changes, and conversely, whether BMI changes predict subsequent leisure time physical activity changes.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included adults attending ≥3 consecutive Tromsø Study surveys (time: T1, T2, T3) during 1974-2016 (n = 10779). If participants attended >3 surveys, we used the three most recent surveys.

Comparison of Muscle Activity in Three Single-Joint, Hip Extension Exercises in Resistance-Trained Women.

The aim of the study was to compare neuromuscular activation in the gluteus maximus, the biceps femoris and the erector spinae from the Romanian deadlift, the 45-degree Roman chair back extension and the seated machine back extension. Fifteen resistance-trained females performed three repetitions with 6-RM loading in all exercises in a randomized and counterbalanced order. The activation in the whole movement as well as its lower and upper parts were analyzed.

Two-Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Clinical Trial of Inpatient Multimodal Occupational Rehabilitation Vs Outpatient Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Sick Listed Workers with Musculoskeletal or Common Mental Disorders.

Purpose There is a lack of results on long-term effects of return to work interventions. We previously reported that an inpatient multimodal occupational rehabilitation program (I-MORE) was more effective in reducing sickness absence and facilitating return to work (RTW) at 12 months follow-up compared to an outpatient program that consisted mainly of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (O-ACT). We now report the 2-year outcome data.