Can workplace exercise prevent neck pain among office workers?

Abstract

Introduction: Norway has one of the highest prevalence of neck pain in the world. Two thirds of Norway's working population have sedentary office work, and office workers are the occupational group with the highest incidence of work-related neck pain. The importance of preventive measures is often emphasized, but knowledge of risk factors paints a complex picture. This article discusses one of the interventions that is often believed to be preventive; exercise at the workplace, and its effectiveness and benefit in a wider context. Main section: The majority of research in this area has focused on the effect of exercise for neck symptoms, while few studies investigate primary preventive measures. Furthermore, there are large variations within the research regarding type of intervention, work environment and symptoms. Though evidence of effectiveness is scarce, ergonomic or activity-based measures at the workplace have long been considered a key in reducing new episodes / prevalence of neck pain. However, psychosocial and organizational factors have significant implications for work-related neck pain. These questions the effectiveness of measures that solely focus on physical factors and don’t consider a broader view of the working health and environment. End section: There are several challenges and gaps in our knowledge of what might be the most effective measures in preventing work-related neck pain in sedentary occupational groups. Activity-based interventions in the workplace can have an effect for some, but should not be a stand-alone measure. Careful mapping of the specific work environment may be necessary to meet a complex challenge and to optimize the interventions.

Keywords

• prevention
• neck pain
• interventions
• physical activity