This study was conducted to provide data for the establishment of a practical and the effective exercise program for managing the musculoskeletal symptoms of workers who are employed in small and medium sized enterprises.

The risk factors related to musculoskeletal disease management were chosen according to the relevant literatures, and were based on advise from experts on the Delphi method. Questionnaires on selected risk factors (with a 5-point Likert scale) were given to 785 subjects who worked in small and medium sized enterprises. The subjects were then classified in the risk group when they had the symptoms and recorded at least 3 points. From those subjects in the risk group, those who had both work-related factors and general characteristics factors (with an average of at least 3 points) were further classified as the high risk group. We performed a 12-week musculoskeletal exercise program for the low and high risk groups to analyze their changes in symptoms and complaints in order to estimate the effectiveness of the exercise program.

Out of 785 subjects, 454(57.8%) were in the risk group of musculoskeletal diseases and 121(15.4%) were in the high risk group. According to multiple logistic regression analysis of the factors for the musculoskeletal symptoms in the low risk group, the significant risk factors were sex and personal disease related with musculoskeletal disease, while the risk factors in the high risk group were age, sex, and personal disease related with musculoskeletal disease. After the 12-week exercise program was performed by the low risk group, the number of musculoskeletal symptom complaints in the control group did not significantly changed, whereas for the intervention group, the number of musculoskeletal symptom complaints significantly declined for all parts of the body. After the 12-week exercise program performed by the high risk group, the number of musculoskeletal symptom complaints in the control group was significantly enhanced for the arm and elbow parts. In the intervention group, the complaint rate for musculoskeletal symptoms significantly declined only for the low back.

The musculoskeletal symptoms were significantly improved by the exercise program in the low risk group, but not in the high risk group. It is suggested that control measures on administrative and/or work related factors, in addition to the exercise program should be considered simultaneously for the control of musculoskeletal symptoms in groups at high risk of musculoskeletal disease.