title: The Effects of Workplace Physical Activity Programs on Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
abstract: This article reviews the effectiveness of physical activity (PA) interventions at the workplace to reduce musculoskeletal pain among employees and assesses the effect size of these programs using meta-analysis. Four databases (i.e., PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science, and Cochrane) were searched for research trials, which included comparison groups of employees that assessed PA programs, musculoskeletal pain, and health-related behaviors, published between January 1990 and March 2013. The meta-analysis estimates of standardized mean differences (Hedges' g) present significant evidence of less general pain (g = -.40 with a 95% confidence interval [CI] = [-0.78, -0.02]) and neck and shoulder pain (g = -.37 with a 95% CI = [-0.63, -0.12]) in intervention groups. The few studies of low back pain and arm, elbow, wrist, hand, or finger pain did not present sufficient statistically significant evidence. Consistent evidence demonstrates that workplace PA interventions significantly reduce general musculoskeletal pain and neck and shoulder pain. More studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of work-related PA interventions for arm, elbow, wrist, hand or finger, and low back pain.
authors.affiliation: University of Porto Isabel.moreira.silva@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moreira-Silva
authors.affiliation: University of Porto University of Minho.
authors.forename: Pedro M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: University of Porto Maia Institute of Higher Education.
authors.forename: Rute
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: University of Porto.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.affiliation: University of Porto.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: University of Porto.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mota
mesh_terms: D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D017132:Workplace
keywords: meta-analysis; musculoskeletal pain; physical activity; systematic review; workers