The trials suggest that work place exercise is effective , braces and education are ineffective , and workplace modification plus education is of unknown value in preventing low back pain
A systematic review of r and omised controlled trials was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of  workplace interventions  to prevent low back pain .
A cost-benefit analysis of a California county's back injury prevention program.
Back-related injuries have become a major health problem in the workplace , affecting as many as 35 percent of the work force and accounting for about 25 percent of all compensation cl aims . This study evaluates a back injury prevention program  among employees in a northern California county in 1989 - 90 . Six divisions of the county government were selected for the study because they had the highest prevalence of back pain experienced and the most back-related injuries in recent years . Four of the six divisions were r and omly selected as the intervention group and the remaining two , the  control group . Overall , 77 percent or 205 of the targeted employees in the intervention group participated in the study . The intervention group was given an identical health risk assessment ( HRA ) before and after the 1-year back injury prevention program that offered employees a combination of education , training , physical fitness activities , and ergonomic improvement . The control group was neither given the HRA nor offered the program . The back injury and cost data of both the control and intervention groups were collected before and after the 1-year intervention . The results showed a modest overall decline in back pain prevalence rates , but significant improvement in satisfaction and reduction in risky behaviors . Cost-benefit analysis showed the net benefit of introducing back injury prevention program was $ 161,108 , and the return on investment is 179 percent . Therefore , the study offers suggestive evidence for the initial benefits of a back injury prevention program and lends support to the widely held belief that health promotion in the workplace can reduce employee health risks , increase healthful behaviors and attitudes , and improve attitudes toward the employer organization . Whether such intervention will continue to reap benefits in future years depends , to a large extent , on a favorable work environment and the maintenance and continuation of positive behavioral changes
The trials suggest that work place exercise is effective , braces and education are ineffective , and workplace modification plus education is of unknown value in preventing low back pain
A systematic review of r and omised controlled trials was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of  workplace interventions  to prevent low back pain .