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Efficacy of workplace interventions for shoulder pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Veronique Lowry1, Ariel Desjardins-Charbonneau, Jean-Sébastien Roy
1Orthopaedic Unit, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, H3S 1S4 Montreal, Canada. veronique.lowry@hotmail.com.
Objective:
To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of workplace-based interventions to prevent or treat shoulder pain.
Data Sources:
A systematic review of 4 databases was performed up to January 2016.
Study Selection:
Randomized controlled trials were included if the intervention under study was a workplace-based intervention performed to prevent or reduce shoulder pain and disability in workers.
Data Extraction:
The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated and meta-analyses were conducted. Pooled mean differences and risk ratios were calculated.
Data Synthesis:
Data from 4 studies on strengthening exercises performed in the workplace for workers with shoulder pain (n = 368) were pooled. A statistically significant reduction in pain intensity was observed compared with different control interventions (mean differences (scale out of 10) 1.31 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.86-1.76)). Pooled data from 5 studies on the efficacy of workstation modifications (n = 2,148) showed a statistically significant reduction in the prevalence of shoulder pain with a risk ratio of 1.88 (95% CI 1.20-2.96) compared with different control interventions.
Conclusion:
Low-grade evidence exists that a workplace exercise programme may reduce the intensity of shoulder pain, and that workstation modifications may reduce the prevalence of shoulder pain.
