Effects of a community-based self-managed stretching program among Korean-Chinese female migrant workers in Korea

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSD) are among the most common workplace illnesses among Korean-Chinese migrant workers, who are currently the largest migrant group in Korea. Stretching exercise appeared to be effective to prevent or decrease musculoskeletal symptoms but its long-term effects have been rarely studied in migrants. This study aimed to identify the effectiveness of a 24-week community-based, self-managed stretching intervention in Korean-Chinese female migrant workers.

Methods: Participants(n=80), who were Korean-Chinese middle-aged women and had worked full-time during previous 6 months, were randomly assigned to enhanced stretching intervention(EI) or stretching intervention(SI) group. Both EI and SI groups were instructed to exercise a structured 6-minute stretching at least 3 times/day and 5 days/week. The EI group was invited to various interventions to increase exercise adherence through individual phone counseling and SMS text messages. Three sets of acculturation workshop were also offered to the EI group. Physical fitness(flexibility of back, strength of back and leg), WMSD symptoms, and acculturative stress were assessed at baseline, week 12 and 24. Linear mixed models were used to test intervention effects.

Results: Mean number of stretching per week in both EI and SI groups was significantly decreased at week 24 compared to week 12. There were significant improvements in flexibility of back(p<.001), WMSD symptoms(p<.001), and acculturative stress(p=.001) after completing the 24-week intervention in both groups but no significant differences existed between groups.

Conclusions: The 24-week community-based stretching program for migrant workers in community settings was effective to increase flexibility, and decrease WMSD symptoms and acculturative stress.