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 .
Reduction of Pain-Related Disability in Working Populations: A Randomized Intervention Study of the Effects of an Educational Booklet Addressing Psychosocial Risk Factors and Screening Workplaces for Physical Health Hazards
Study Design . Cluster r and omized controlled trial with 6 and 8 quarters of follow-up . Objective . To test the effects of giving evidence -based information addressing psychosocial risk factors for pain-related disability and of screening workplaces for physical health hazards at work on reducing new episodes and duration of pain-related and general absence taking . Summary of Background Data . The “ flag strategy ” for h and ling low back pain problems is recommended in many Western countries but , so far , r and omized intervention studies addressing psychosocial risk factors for disability related to low back pain show mixed results . Methods . We followed employees from 39 different work sites in western Denmark , who had received interventions consisting of either a carefully prepared booklet providing evidence -based information on common musculoskeletal pain problems alone or in combination with systematic workplace screening for physical work hazards .  Absence due to pain for at least 7 days and the cumulative numbers of absence days were the main outcome measures . General absence taking was analyzed , too . Company registration s of sickness absence in combination with self-report on the cause of a given absence spell was used to inform absence spells . Results . A total of 3808 of 4006 eligible employees provided information . Among 1063 participants in the control arm , 1458 in the information arm , and 1287 in the  information and workplace screening  arm , 4.6 % , 6.9 % , and 4.6 % , respectively , experienced pain-related absence , and 27.8 % , 27.2 % , and 24.0 % , respectively , experienced general absence taking during follow-up . No positive effect on the risk of the 2 measures of absence or on the cumulative duration of absence among cases was seen . Conclusion . Results did not support population -based interventions addressing psychosocial risk factors for pain-related disability alone or in combination with workplace screening as effective in reducing the risk of pain-related absence taking or the duration of absence
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 .