Effects of a Physical Therapist Led Workplace Personal-Fitness Management Program for Manufacturing Industry Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: Workplace fitness programs are used to improve worker physical capacity. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of physical therapist (PT) led personal-fitness management programs (PP) on manufacturing worker physical performance assessed using a 30-second chair stand (CS-30) test. METHODS: This assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial enrolled 60 manufacturing workers allocated to a workplace PP group (PPG) or control group (CG). The PPG received monthly, PT managed, individualized PP for 6 months. The CG received a 90-minute group-fitness management course once during the study period. RESULTS: CS-30 significantly improved in both groups (PPG and CG, P < 0.001) following the intervention. There were significant group-time interaction effects, and the PPG experienced a significantly greater improvement in CS-30 results compared with CG (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Individualized PT-led workplace PP may be more effective in improving worker physical performance.