PHYSICAL FITNESS AND CORTISOL LEVEL IN THE INJURED WORKERS AFTER 6 MONTHS OF PHYSICAL REHABILITATION

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine physical fitness and salivary cortisol concentration of injured workers after 6 months of industrial rehabilitation program (IRP). Twenty-five injured workers (IW), 4 females and 21 males, between 17 to 60 years of age who admitted for  rehabilitation at the industrial rehabilitation center (IRC), social security officer, ministry of labor, Thailand from March 1st till December 31th 2014 were participated in this study. Anthropometric measurements, physical fitness variables and level of salivary cortisol concentration were evaluated at the time of recruitment and after 6 months of IRP. There were no changed in anthropometric measurements after 6 months of IRP. For physical fitness test, significant postrehabilitation improvements were noted only in right biceps muscle strength and flexibility (p<0.05). Moreover, salivary cortisol level tended to decrease but did not change as a result of IRP for 6-month period. The results indicate that a 6-month rehabilitation in IRC experience exerted therapeutic effects on physical fitness variables only in biceps muscle strength and flexibility, but not on stress level of the injured workers. These data imply that current physical therapy ( PT) duration and practice may not be sufficient to halt the deterioration of physical function and to minimize the decreases in activity tolerance, as well as to minimize the stress of the injured worker. Therefore, improving muscle strength, respiratory function and stress reduction program by using alternative exercise therapy such as yoga, Tai Chi, Jigong which is widely
available, easy implemented, and able to promote physical fitness,  sychological performance and selfefficacy of exercise among the injured workers would be help achieve the goal of PT treatment in IRP.

(Journal of Sports Science and Technology 2016; 16(2) : 89-98)

Keywords: Work related injury, industrial rehabilitation center, Salivary cortisol hormone level