We found inconsistent evidence that the use of an arm support or an alternative mouse may or may not reduce the incidence of neck or shoulder MSDs .
For other physical ergonomic interventions there is no evidence of an effect .
For organisational interventions , in the form of supplementary breaks , there is very low- quality evidence of an effect on upper limb discomfort .
For training and multifaceted interventions there is no evidence of an effect on upper limb pain or discomfort .
BACKGROUND Work-related upper limb and neck musculoskeletal disorders ( MSDs ) are one of the most common occupational disorders worldwide .
Studies have shown that the percentage of office workers that suffer from MSDs ranges from 20 to 60 per cent .
The direct and indirect costs of work-related upper limb MSDs have been reported to be high in Europe , Australia , and the United States .
Although ergonomic interventions are likely to reduce the risk of office workers developing work-related upper limb and neck MSDs , the evidence is unclear .
This is an up date of a Cochrane Review which was last published in 2012 .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of physical , cognitive and organisational ergonomic interventions , or combinations of those interventions for the prevention of work-related upper limb and neck MSDs among office workers .
A test of two training interventions to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity.
We investigated , on behalf of a large electronics manufacturer , two types of worker training interventions  for their efficacy in preventing unnecessary muscle tension and the symptoms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders . The first intervention , Muscle Learning Therapy ( MLT ) , used electromyographic ( sEMG ) feedback and operant conditioning to decrease muscle tension during complex work tasks . The second intervention used adult learning and cognitive behavioral techniques in small group discussion to advance the worker 's capabilities for symptom and stress management and problem-solving . Workers were r and omly assigned to a control group or one of the two treatment conditions . Prior to training , baseline data were collected using symptom diaries and sEMG recordings of the trapezius and forearm muscles of the left and right arms . The training interventions were conducted for 6 weeks with reinforcement training provided at 18 and 32 weeks post-baseline . Follow-up data were collected after the initial 6-week training period and at 32 weeks , prior to the reinforcement training . Symptom outcomes demonstrated significant differences at 6 weeks , increasing in severity for the control group and declining modestly for the educational group , with little change for the MLT group . These differences were not maintained at further follow-up . The MLT group was consistently effective in reducing muscle tension in the trapezius areas after 6 and 32 weeks , and was partially effective for the forearms . Further testing is recommended of these training interventions , especially with the inclusion of strategic , periodic reinforcement of the worker 's learning
We found inconsistent evidence that the use of an arm support or an alternative mouse may or may not reduce the incidence of neck or shoulder MSDs .
For other physical ergonomic interventions there is no evidence of an effect .
For organisational interventions , in the form of supplementary breaks , there is very low- quality evidence of an effect on upper limb discomfort .
For training and multifaceted interventions there is no evidence of an effect on upper limb pain or discomfort .
BACKGROUND Work-related upper limb and neck musculoskeletal disorders ( MSDs ) are one of the most common occupational disorders worldwide .
Studies have shown that the percentage of office workers that suffer from MSDs ranges from 20 to 60 per cent .
The direct and indirect costs of work-related upper limb MSDs have been reported to be high in Europe , Australia , and the United States .
Although ergonomic interventions are likely to reduce the risk of office workers developing work-related upper limb and neck MSDs , the evidence is unclear .
This is an up date of a Cochrane Review which was last published in 2012 .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of physical , cognitive and organisational ergonomic interventions , or combinations of those interventions for the prevention of work-related upper limb and neck MSDs among office workers .