Abstract
Objective: Company health promoters, an occupational health nurse and external exercise specialists collaborated to hold a stretching class. The class process was evaluated (recruitment, collaborative framework, class curriculum and participant satisfaction) and pre- and post-class comparisons were made in stretching frequency and shoulder/back pain.
Methods: After receiving support from an occupational health nurse and external exercise specialists, health promoters at the Tokyo Headquarters of Sanden Corporation held a stretching class to relieve shoulder/back pain once a week for four weeks. Before and after comparisons were made without a control group. Of the 48 participants, 35 (28 men and seven women) also completed the post-class survey and were analyzed. Questionnaires were administered before and after the class asking about sex, age, lifestyle habits, stretching frequency, level of shoulder/back pain and impression of the class.
Results: Thirty participants joined one class, three joined two classes and two joined an unknown number of classes. Over 90% of participants gave positive responses concerning the class length, class instructions and overall satisfaction. In a free answer question, positive comments were given for impression of the class and health promoter activities. Stretching frequency did not increase after the class, but analysis excluding participants without shoulder/back pain before the class revealed a significant improvement in these symptoms.
Conclusion: Participants had good impressions of the stretching class and showed improvement in shoulder/back pain. Challenges remain in recruiting participants, keeping them coming back and increasing the stretching frequency.
