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 .
The costs for persons sick-listed more than one month because of low back or neck problems. A two-year prospective study of Swedish patients
The total costs for patients who are sick-listed due to back and neck problems have not previously been determined prospect ively on an individual basis . This study aim ed to determine the total cost to a society , based on individually assessed costs of health services and loss of production in people who are sick-listed 28 days or more for back or neck problems . Detailed data on individuals ’ health-care consumption due to back or neck problems was collected through prospect ively entered diaries and question naires , after 4 weeks , 3 months , 1 and 2 years , in a consecutively selected cohort of 1,822 employed persons aged between 18 and 59 years .  Costs for health care and production losses due to work absenteeism were determined individually and combined to render total costs to society . The costs for all medical services during the 2-year study were 6.9 % of total costs for back and neck problems . The single most expensive medical service was surgery . Transferred to a national level , annual total costs for back and neck problems corresponded to 1 % of GNP . In conclusion , direct health-service costs were a small fraction of the total costs , consequently indirect costs offer the greatest potential for savings
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 .