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 .
A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effects of New Task Chairs on Shoulder and Neck Pain Among Sewing Machine Operators: The Los Angeles Garment Study
Study Design . This is a 4-month r and omized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of chair design on neck/shoulder pain  among sewing machine operators . Objective . Determine whether a chair with a curved seat pan leads to improved changes in monthly neck/shoulder pain scores compared with a control intervention . Summary of Background Data . Sewing machine operators experience a high prevalence and severity of neck and shoulder pain in comparison to other working population s probably due to the sustained shoulder abduction and neck and upper back flexion required of the task . An adjustable height task chair that supports a forward sitting posture may reduce these posture-related risk factors and reduce neck/shoulder pain . Material s and Methods . A total of 277 sewing machine operators with neck/shoulder pain were assigned to receive 1 ) miscellaneous items ( control group ) , 2 ) a chair with a flat seat pan plus miscellaneous items , or 3 ) a chair with a curved seat pan plus miscellaneous items . Participants completed a monthly question naire assessing neck/shoulder pain severity . Results . Based on estimates of pain score changes from a repeat- measures linear regression , participants who received the flat seat chair experienced a decline in pain of 0.14 ( 95 % confidence interval , 0.07–0.22 ) points per month compared with those in the control group , while those who received the curved seat experienced a decline of 0.34 ( 95 % confidence interval , 0.28–0.41 ) points per month compared with those in the control group . These estimates did not change after adjustment for potential covariates . Conclusions . These findings demonstrate that an adjustable height task chair with a curved seat pan can reduce neck and shoulder pain severity among sewing machine operators
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 .