A Systematic Review of Workplace Interventions to Rehabilitate Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Employees with Physical Demanding Work.

The review included only English-language studies, so it may miss relevant non-English evidence. Most studies were from Europe, especially Scandinavian countries, so the results may not transfer to workplaces in other regions. The review excluded sedentary workers, so it does not tell therapists what to expect for office-based employees. The included studies were too different to pool statistically, so the review used a best evidence synthesis rather than a meta-analysis. Positive effects were not always based on the original study's primary musculoskeletal outcome; some came from secondary or tertiary outcomes. For studies with several follow-ups, the longest follow-up was used, which could bias results if effects changed over time. Non-randomised studies were included, and the evidence method did not weight larger samples more heavily than small studies. Participatory ergonomics and multifaceted interventions had very different components, so the review cannot say which specific elements failed or might work. The review did not report how long workers had had musculoskeletal disorders, which could influence effects. The review measured musculoskeletal pain, symptoms, discomfort, or prevalence, not work ability, disability, or sick leave.

The only conflict-of-interest information supplied is that the review was funded by The Danish Working Environment Research Fund.

Do not read the null findings as proof that workplace interventions never work. Strength-training programmes had strong evidence of benefit, although some also included coaching, mobilisation, or stretching, and the no-benefit domains had very different components.