Results Level of evidence from 54 high and medium quality studies showed moderate evidence of a positive effect of physical exercise .
Within this domain , there was strong evidence of a positive effect of workplace strength training .
There was limited evidence for ergonomics and strong evidence for no benefit of participatory ergonomics , multifaceted interventions , and stress management .
No intervention domains were associated with “ negative effects ” .
Conclusions The evidence synthesis recommends that implementing strength training at the workplace can reduce MSD  among workers with physically dem and ing work .
In regard to workplace ergonomics , there was not enough evidence from the scientific literature to guide current practice s. Based on the scientific literature , participatory ergonomics and multifaceted workplace interventions seem to have no beneficial effect on reducing MSD among this group of workers .
Purpose This systematic review investigates the effectiveness of workplace interventions to rehabilitate musculoskeletal disorders ( MSDs ) among employees with physically dem and ing work .
Effects of a Participatory Ergonomics Intervention With Wearable Technical Measurements of Physical Workload in the Construction Industry: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Background Construction work frequently involves heavy physical work , and a reduction of the physical workload should have high priority . Technological development has made it possible to obtain field measurements with surface electromyography ( sEMG ) , kinematics measured with inertial measurement units ( IMUs ) , and video recordings . However , no studies have used these methods simultaneously to detect situations with excessive physical workload ( events ) during a working day . Thus , knowledge about these specific events may combat work-related risk factors . Participatory ergonomics ( PE ) has shown promising results , but whether it can be used as a tool to reduce the physical workload during construction work remains unknown . Objective This cluster r and omized controlled trial investigated whether a PE intervention with technical measurements consisting of IMUs , sEMG , heart rate monitoring , and video recordings of physical workload could reduce the number of events with excessive physical workload during a working day . Furthermore , other outcomes were obtained from question naires . Methods A total of 80 male full-time construction workers ( aged 19 to 67 years ) were r and omized at the cluster level ( gang ) to a PE intervention consisting of 3 workshops ( 7 gangs and 32 workers ) or to a control group ( 8 gangs and 48 workers ) . The physical workload was recorded by technical measurements , that is , IMUs ,  sEMG  , heart rate monitoring , and video recordings during a full working day at baseline and 3 and 6 months ’ follow-up . On the basis of the technical measurements , a custom-made computer program detected the situations ( events ) where the construction workers were exposed to excessive physical workload and used in the intervention . Differences in the number of events from baseline to follow-up between intervention and control were evaluated using linear mixed models ( intention-to-treat ) , with individual nested in cluster as a r and om factor . Furthermore , question naires were filled out on test days . Results The results of the primary outcome showed no change in the number of events with excessive physical workload . However , compared with the control group , the other outcomes showed decreased general fatigue after a typical working day ( P=.001 ) and increased influence on own work ( P=.04 ) . Conclusions This PE intervention with technical measurements did not reduce the number of events with excessive physical workload during construction work . However , the intervention led to decreased general fatigue and increased influence on own work . Trial Registration Clinical Trials.gov NCT02498197 ; https:// clinical trials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02498197 ( Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/74SZ3DIWS
Results Level of evidence from 54 high and medium quality studies showed moderate evidence of a positive effect of physical exercise .
Within this domain , there was strong evidence of a positive effect of workplace strength training .
There was limited evidence for ergonomics and strong evidence for no benefit of participatory ergonomics , multifaceted interventions , and stress management .
No intervention domains were associated with “ negative effects ” .
Conclusions The evidence synthesis recommends that implementing strength training at the workplace can reduce MSD  among workers with physically dem and ing work .
In regard to workplace ergonomics , there was not enough evidence from the scientific literature to guide current practice s. Based on the scientific literature , participatory ergonomics and multifaceted workplace interventions seem to have no beneficial effect on reducing MSD among this group of workers .
Purpose This systematic review investigates the effectiveness of workplace interventions to rehabilitate musculoskeletal disorders ( MSDs ) among employees with physically dem and ing work .