Thus , WIs were seldom design ed to improve return-to-work .
Overall , there was low quality evidence that showed no significant differences between WIs and no intervention for pain prevalence or severity .
If present , significant results in favour of WIs were not sustained across follow-up times .
Overall , this review found low quality evidence that neither supported nor refuted the benefits of any specific WI for pain relief and moderate quality evidence that a multiple-component intervention reduced sickness absence in the intermediate-term , which was not sustained over time .
BACKGROUND Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common cause of disability in many industrial countries .
Recurrent and chronic pain accounts for a substantial portion of workers ' absenteeism .
Neck pain seems to be more prominent in the general population than previously known .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of workplace interventions ( WIs ) in adult workers with neck pain .
Effects of an ergonomic training program on workers with video display units.
OBJECTIVES This study evaluated the effect of an ergonomic training program on workstation changes and on the prevalence of  musculoskeletal disorders among video display unit ( VDU ) users at a large university . METHODS A pretest-posttest design with a reference group was used with r and om allocation of administrative and geographic units . In each group , the measurements involved direct observation of the workstations , a self-administered question naire , and a physical examination . The measurements were performed 2 weeks before and 6 months after the training in parallel in both groups . The study population was composed of 627 workers ( 81 % of those eligible ) . RESULTS The prevalence of all 3 of the postural stressors evaluated decreased in the experimental group after the training . In the reference group , 2 of the 3 stressors decreased in frequency but to a less extent . Some of these beneficial changes were more frequent in workers under 40 years of age . The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders decreased among the workers under 40 years of age in the experimental group , from 29 % to 13 % determined by question naire and from 19 % to 3 % determined by physical examination . In other groups , there was no significant change in the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders . CONCLUSIONS Improvements in postural stressors occurred more frequently in the experimental group , and these beneficial changes tended to be more frequent in workers under 40 years of age . Improvements in musculoskeletal disorders occurred in the experimental group among the workers under 40 years of age
Thus , WIs were seldom design ed to improve return-to-work .
Overall , there was low quality evidence that showed no significant differences between WIs and no intervention for pain prevalence or severity .
If present , significant results in favour of WIs were not sustained across follow-up times .
Overall , this review found low quality evidence that neither supported nor refuted the benefits of any specific WI for pain relief and moderate quality evidence that a multiple-component intervention reduced sickness absence in the intermediate-term , which was not sustained over time .
BACKGROUND Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common cause of disability in many industrial countries .
Recurrent and chronic pain accounts for a substantial portion of workers ' absenteeism .
Neck pain seems to be more prominent in the general population than previously known .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of workplace interventions ( WIs ) in adult workers with neck pain .