Self-Management Interventions and Work Participation in Individuals with Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Scoping Review

Many individuals with work disability due to musculoskeletal disorders struggle to achieve a sustainable return to work. Although self-management interventions offer promising avenues to support work participation, their content, delivery characteristics and evaluation approaches remain unclear. This scoping review aimed to map the self-management interventions evaluated in relation to work participation among individuals with work disability due to musculoskeletal disorders, including their components, delivery methods and evaluation approaches.

A scoping review was conducted in 10 databases (Academic Search Complete, AMED, SPORTDiscus, Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Physiotherapy Evidence Database) from inception to July 2025. Primary studies involving working-age individuals with musculoskeletal disorders, a self-management intervention and an assessment of work participation were included.

Out of 8310 records, 31 studies representing 23 self-management interventions were included with a median of 10 components (range 3-16). Most studies included non-specific musculoskeletal disorders (n = 13, 41.9%) or low back pain (n = 8, 29%). Less than half of interventions included content specific to work (n = 10, 43%), lifestyle changes (n = 9, 39%), resource utilization (n = 8, 35%), and communication skills (n = 7, 30%). Interventions were typically delivered in person (n = 12, 52%), individually (n = 14, 61%), and with clinician involvement (n = 15, 65%), while 43% (n = 10) incorporated digital health. Most studies focused on intervention effectiveness (n = 23, 72%), assessing work ability (n = 10, 30.4%), sick leave and return to work (n = 9, 39.1%), and work disability (n = 7, 30.4%). Fewer studies included process outcomes (n = 14, 45%) or participant views (n = 8, 26%).

This review revealed considerable heterogeneity in self-management components, delivery and evaluation methods. It identifies key gaps, suggesting the potential value of workplace-integrated self-management interventions to better support work participation.