Levels of evidence for interventions associated with positive effects were : Moderate evidence for arm supports ; and Limited evidence for ergonomics training plus workstation adjustments , new chair and rest breaks .
Levels of evidence for interventions associated with “ no effect ” were : Strong evidence for workstation adjustment alone ; Moderate evidence for biofeedback training and job stress management training ; and Limited evidence for cognitive behavioral training .
No interventions were associated with “ negative effects ” .
Conclusion It is difficult to make strong evidence d-based recommendations about what practitioners should do to prevent or manage upper extremity MSDs .
There is a paucity of high quality OHS interventions evaluating upper extremity MSDs and none focused on traumatic injury outcomes or workplace m and ated pre-placement screening exams .
Background Little is known about the most effective occupational health and safety ( OHS ) interventions to reduce  upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders ( MSDs ) and injuries .
Methods A systematic review used a best evidence synthesis approach to address the question : “ do occupational health and safety interventions have an effect on upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms , signs , disorders , injuries , cl aims and lost time ? ”
The effect of forearm support on musculoskeletal discomfort during call centre work.
Using a computer keyboard with the forearms unsupported has been proposed as a causal factor for  neck/shoulder and arm/h and diagnoses . Recent laboratory and field studies have demonstrated that forearm support might be preferable to working in the traditional " floating " posture . The aim of this study was to determine whether providing forearm support when using a normal computer workstation would decrease musculoskeletal discomfort in intensive computer users in a call centre . A r and omised controlled study ( n = 59 ) , of 6 weeks duration was conducted . Thirty participants ( Group 1 ) were allocated to forearm support using the desk surface with the remainder ( Group 2 ) acting as a control group . At 6 weeks , the control group was also set up with forearm support . Both groups were then monitored for another 6 weeks . Question naires were used at 1 , 6 and 12 weeks to obtain information about discomfort , workstation setup , working posture and comfort .  Nine participants ( Group 1 n = 6 , Group 2 n = 3 ) withdrew within a week of commencing forearm support either due to discomfort or difficulty in maintaining the posture . At 6 weeks , the group using forearm support generated significantly fewer reports of discomfort in the neck and back , although the difference between the groups was not statistically significant . At 12 weeks , there were fewer reports of neck , back and wrist discomfort when preintervention discomfort was compared with post intervention discomfort . These findings indicate that for the majority of users , forearm support may be preferable to the " floating " posture implicit in current guidelines for computer workstation setup
Levels of evidence for interventions associated with positive effects were : Moderate evidence for arm supports ; and Limited evidence for ergonomics training plus workstation adjustments , new chair and rest breaks .
Levels of evidence for interventions associated with “ no effect ” were : Strong evidence for workstation adjustment alone ; Moderate evidence for biofeedback training and job stress management training ; and Limited evidence for cognitive behavioral training .
No interventions were associated with “ negative effects ” .
Conclusion It is difficult to make strong evidence d-based recommendations about what practitioners should do to prevent or manage upper extremity MSDs .
There is a paucity of high quality OHS interventions evaluating upper extremity MSDs and none focused on traumatic injury outcomes or workplace m and ated pre-placement screening exams .
Background Little is known about the most effective occupational health and safety ( OHS ) interventions to reduce  upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders ( MSDs ) and injuries .
Methods A systematic review used a best evidence synthesis approach to address the question : “ do occupational health and safety interventions have an effect on upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms , signs , disorders , injuries , cl aims and lost time ? ”