None of the ergonomic interventions was more beneficial for any outcome measures when compared with another treatment or with no treatment or with placebo .
Behavioural interventions had inconsistent effects on pain and disability , with some subgroups showing benefit and others showing no significant improvement when compared with no treatment , minor intervention controls or other behavioural interventions .In the eight studies that evaluated various other interventions , there was no evidence of a clear beneficial effect of any of the interventions provided .
We found very low- quality evidence indicating that pain , recovery , disability and sick leave are similar after exercises when compared with no treatment , with minor intervention controls or with exercises provided as additional treatment to people with work-related complaints of the arm , neck or shoulder .
Low- quality evidence also showed that ergonomic interventions did not decrease pain at short-term follow-up but did decrease pain at long-term follow-up .
There was no evidence of an effect on other outcomes .
For behavioural and other interventions , there was no evidence of a consistent effect on any of the outcomes .
BACKGROUND Work-related upper limb disorder ( WRULD ) , repetitive strain injury ( RSI ) , occupational overuse syndrome ( OOS ) and work-related complaints of the arm , neck or shoulder ( CANS ) are the most frequently used umbrella terms for disorders that develop as a result of repetitive movements , awkward postures and impact of external forces such as those associated with operating vibrating tools .
Work-related CANS , which is the term we use in this review , severely hampers the working population .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of conservative interventions for work-related complaints of the arm , neck or shoulder ( CANS ) in adults on pain , function and work-related outcomes .
Active neck muscle training in the treatment of chronic neck pain in women: a randomized controlled trial.
CONTEXT Active physical training is commonly recommended for patients with chronic neck pain ; however , its efficacy has not been demonstrated in r and omized studies . OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of intensive isometric neck strength training and lighter endurance training of neck muscles on pain and disability in women with chronic , nonspecific neck pain . DESIGN Examiner-blinded r and omized controlled trial conducted between February 2000 and March 2002 . SETTING Participants were recruited from occupational health care systems in southern and eastern Finl and . PATIENTS A total of 180 female office workers between the ages of 25 and 53 years with chronic , nonspecific neck pain . INTERVENTIONS Patients were r and omly assigned to either 2 training groups or to a control group , with 60 patients in each group . The endurance training group performed dynamic neck exercises , which included lifting the head up from the supine and prone positions . The strength training group performed high-intensity isometric neck strengthening and stabilization exercises with an elastic b and . Both training groups performed dynamic exercises for the shoulders and upper extremities with dumbbells . All groups were advised to do aerobic and stretching exercises regularly 3 times a week . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Neck pain and disability were assessed by a visual analog scale , the neck and shoulder pain and disability index , and the Vernon neck disability index . Intermediate outcome measures included mood assessed by a short depression inventory and by maximal isometric neck strength and range of motion measures . RESULTS At the 12-month follow-up visit , both neck pain and disability had decreased in both training groups compared with the control group ( P<.001 ) . Maximal isometric neck strength had improved flexion by 110 % , rotation by 76 % , and extension by 69 % in the strength training group . The respective improvements in the endurance training group were 28 % , 29 % , and 16 % and in the control group were 10 % , 10 % , and 7 % . Range of motion had also improved statistically significantly in both training groups compared with the control group in rotation , but only the strength training group had statistically significant improvements in lateral flexion and in flexion and extension . CONCLUSIONS Both strength and endurance training for 12 months were effective methods for decreasing pain and disability in women with chronic , nonspecific neck pain . Stretching and fitness training are commonly advised for patients with chronic neck pain , but stretching and aerobic exercising alone proved to be a much less effective form of training than strength training
None of the ergonomic interventions was more beneficial for any outcome measures when compared with another treatment or with no treatment or with placebo .
Behavioural interventions had inconsistent effects on pain and disability , with some subgroups showing benefit and others showing no significant improvement when compared with no treatment , minor intervention controls or other behavioural interventions .In the eight studies that evaluated various other interventions , there was no evidence of a clear beneficial effect of any of the interventions provided .
We found very low- quality evidence indicating that pain , recovery , disability and sick leave are similar after exercises when compared with no treatment , with minor intervention controls or with exercises provided as additional treatment to people with work-related complaints of the arm , neck or shoulder .
Low- quality evidence also showed that ergonomic interventions did not decrease pain at short-term follow-up but did decrease pain at long-term follow-up .
There was no evidence of an effect on other outcomes .
For behavioural and other interventions , there was no evidence of a consistent effect on any of the outcomes .
BACKGROUND Work-related upper limb disorder ( WRULD ) , repetitive strain injury ( RSI ) , occupational overuse syndrome ( OOS ) and work-related complaints of the arm , neck or shoulder ( CANS ) are the most frequently used umbrella terms for disorders that develop as a result of repetitive movements , awkward postures and impact of external forces such as those associated with operating vibrating tools .
Work-related CANS , which is the term we use in this review , severely hampers the working population .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of conservative interventions for work-related complaints of the arm , neck or shoulder ( CANS ) in adults on pain , function and work-related outcomes .