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 .
Frequent short rest breaks from computer work: effects on productivity and well-being at two field sites.
Computer operators at two work sites ( n = 73 , n = 19 ) were prompted to take three 30-s and one 3-min break from computer work each hour in addition to conventional rest breaks . Some operators were asked to perform stretching exercises during the short breaks . Mood state and musculoskeletal discomfort were assessed at each work site over a 2- or 3-week baseline period and a 4- or 6-week treatment period , respectively . Operator productivity measures were obtained from company records . Operators complied with about half of the added breaks but favoured 3-min breaks over 30-s breaks . No improvement in productivity or well-being was found at the larger work site . At the smaller work site , productivity , eye , leg and foot comfort all improved when the short breaks included stretching exercises . These results provide evidence that frequent short breaks from continuous computer-mediated work can benefit worker productivity and well-being when the breaks integrate with task dem and
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 .