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 .
One-year randomized controlled trial with different physical-activity programs to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck and shoulders among office workers.
OBJECTIVES This study evaluates the effect of two different worksite physical-activity interventions on neck-shoulder symptoms , together with perceived work ability and sick leave  among office workers . METHODS An examiner-blinded r and omized controlled trial was conducted with 549 office workers allocated to one of three intervention groups : one with specific resistance training ( SRT ) of the neck-shoulder region ( N=180 ) , one with all-round physical exercise ( APE ) ( N=187 )  , and one which acted as a reference group , which was informed about general health-promoting activities but did not include a physical activity program ( N=182 ) . Question naires were filled out at baseline and after 1 year of training . RESULTS The duration and intensity of neck and shoulder symptoms was lower after the specified worksite physical-activity interventions than in the reference group . On an intervention group level , SRT was not more effective than APE in reducing the duration and intensity of neck and shoulder symptoms . However , those asymptomatic at baseline had a significant lower prevalence of neck-shoulder symptoms at follow-up when allocated to the SRT group than placed in the APE group or reference group . At baseline the work ability index ( WAI ) was close to 90 % of the maximum score , and the mean sick leave was 5 days per year , both being unaffected by the interventions . CONCLUSIONS Different physical-activity interventions were successful in reducing neck-shoulder symptoms , and SRT was superior to APE in the primary prevention of such symptoms . The initially relatively high WAI was the most probable reason for no further increase in WAI . Likewise the mean sick leave the year before the intervention was very low , and it was probably not possible to reduce it further
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 .