Skamagki G1, King A1, Wahlin C2,3
1Coventry University, Physiotherapy, Coventry, United Kingdom, 2Linköping University, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, County Council of Östergötland, Sweden, 3Karolinska Institutet, Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research, Institute for Environmental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
Background: Chronic musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) have a great impact on people's lives as they are a source of long-term pain and increase the number of lost working days. Worldwide, a variety of models and recommendations have been suggested to shift the need for healthcare and sick leave from the healthcare system to the employer. The WHO has identified three main categories of health interventions that can be used to manage the risk of MSDs at the workplace: prevention, return to work, and long-term management. This study focuses on the third category which includes management at the workplace of individuals with existing conditions.
Purpose: The aim of this systematic review is to identify the workplace management strategies of individuals with existing chronic (over 3 months) musculoskeletal disorders and to highlight whether these interventions are effective.
Methods: The literature search included articles that were published between 2008 and 2017. The strategy searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, Cochrane, PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete and PEDro. Search strategies used Boolean operators (AND/OR/NOT), Subject Headings, alternative spellings, acronyms, and wild cards. In addition, Scopus was used to perform post-publication citation searching for identified articles. Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias.
Results: We identified 257 references and included 12 RCTs that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Seven studies were classified as high quality (>85% of criteria met) and 5 studies were classified as acceptable. The studies were heterogeneous preventing a meta-analysis. Interventions included different strengthening exercises, workstation equipment modifications and on-site healthcare services. Most interventions appeared beneficial for work status, reducing pain and increasing functional status. No intervention was clearly superior to another.
Conclusion(s): There was some consistency in the results of the selected studies, suggesting that high intensity strength exercises and/or integrated health care at the workplace may decrease pain and symptoms for employees who experience chronic musculoskeletal disorders. In addition, the studies in this review also showed clinically and significantly important differences in favour of some secondary outcomes for the workplace groups such as well-being, job satisfaction, desire to exercise, energy for family and friends, motivation to eat better and socializing more with their colleagues.
Implications: It is important for physiotherapists to ask patients with MSDs about work conditions, work tasks and needed interventions at the workplace. We need to encourage patients to talk to employers about options to participate in strategies and interventions that will improve their workplace performance.
Keywords: Chronic Musculoskeletal disorders, Systematic Review, Workplace
Funding acknowledgements: None
Purpose: The aim of this systematic review is to identify the workplace management strategies of individuals with existing chronic (over 3 months) musculoskeletal disorders and to highlight whether these interventions are effective.
Methods: The literature search included articles that were published between 2008 and 2017. The strategy searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, Cochrane, PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete and PEDro. Search strategies used Boolean operators (AND/OR/NOT), Subject Headings, alternative spellings, acronyms, and wild cards. In addition, Scopus was used to perform post-publication citation searching for identified articles. Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias.
Results: We identified 257 references and included 12 RCTs that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Seven studies were classified as high quality (>85% of criteria met) and 5 studies were classified as acceptable. The studies were heterogeneous preventing a meta-analysis. Interventions included different strengthening exercises, workstation equipment modifications and on-site healthcare services. Most interventions appeared beneficial for work status, reducing pain and increasing functional status. No intervention was clearly superior to another.
Conclusion(s): There was some consistency in the results of the selected studies, suggesting that high intensity strength exercises and/or integrated health care at the workplace may decrease pain and symptoms for employees who experience chronic musculoskeletal disorders. In addition, the studies in this review also showed clinically and significantly important differences in favour of some secondary outcomes for the workplace groups such as well-being, job satisfaction, desire to exercise, energy for family and friends, motivation to eat better and socializing more with their colleagues.
Implications: It is important for physiotherapists to ask patients with MSDs about work conditions, work tasks and needed interventions at the workplace. We need to encourage patients to talk to employers about options to participate in strategies and interventions that will improve their workplace performance.
Keywords: Chronic Musculoskeletal disorders, Systematic Review, Workplace
Funding acknowledgements: None
Topic: Occupational health & ergonomics; Musculoskeletal; Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Coventry University
Ethics committee: Coventry University Research Ethics Committee
Ethics number: P52506
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
