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 .
Predicting Persistent Neck Pain: A 1-Year Follow-up of a Population Cohort
Study Design . A population cohort study to determine the 1-year persistence of neck pain . Objectives . The aim of this study was to determine the persistence of  neck pain  over a 12-month period among the general adult population and to explore socio-demographic , health-related , occupational , physical , and lifestyle factors that might be linked to such persistence . Summary of Background Data . Musculoskeletal clinicians report that neck patients frequently return to consult for recurring episodes of pain . However , the persistent nature of neck pain has been less research ed than other common chronic pain syndromes . Methods . First , to identify a cohort of current neck pain sufferers , a baseline cross-sectional survey was conducted in a general population of 7,669 adults , 18 to 75 years of age , registered with two primary care practice s in South Manchester , UK . The second phase was a follow-up survey , 12 months later , to determine the 1-year persistence of neck pain among those who had reported neck pain at baseline . Persistence of neck pain was compared across groups of responders stratified by potential prognostic factors measured at baseline . “ Persistent ” neck pain was defined according to shading within the region of the neck on a blank body mannequin . The term “ persistent ” neck pain could therefore reflect chronic , recurrent , or continuous pain . Results . There were 1,359 neck pain responders in the baseline survey , and these subjects formed the study population for the prospect i ve study . At follow-up , 786 ( 58 % ) subjects responded , of whom 48 % reported having neck pain lasting for more than 1 day , during the previous month . Significant baseline characteristics , which independently predicted persistent neck pain , were age ( odds ratio [ OR ] = 3.4 ) , being off work at the time of the baseline survey ( OR = 1.6 ) , comorbid low back pain ( OR = 1.6 ) , and cycling as a regular activity ( OR = 2.4 ) . Conclusion . Among the general population , neck pain persists at 12 months in around half of those who report neck pain at the start of the period . An increased risk of persistent neck pain was associated with age 45 to 59 years and low back pain , and also with cycling . The linkwith psychological distress and the absence of a link with occupational factors compares with other previous findings for common musculoskeletal syndromes in the community
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 .