QUESTION: Are postural exercises delivered by Mensendieck/Cesar therapists more effective in decreasing pain, reducing disability and improving health-related quality of life in visual display unit workers with early non-specific work-related upper limb disorders than strength and fitness exercises delivered by physiotherapists? DESIGN: Randomised trial with concealed allocation and intention-to-treat analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-eight (6 drop-outs) visual display unit workers with early non-specific work-related upper limb disorders. INTERVENTION: One group received 10 weeks of postural exercises while the other group received 10 weeks of strength and fitness exercises. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain was measured with a 10-cm visual analogue scale, disability was measured with the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire, and health-related quality of life was measured with the Short Form-36. Number of participants experiencing upper limb complaints was also collected. Outcome measures were collected at baseline and again at 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in decrease in pain between the groups at 3 months (0.6 cm, 95% CI 0.0 to 1.2), 6 months (0.2, 95% CI -0.3 to 0.7), or at 12 months (0.1, 95% CI -0.6 to 0.8). Differences between the groups in upper limb complaints, disability, and health related quality of life were also small and not significant at any measurement occasion. CONCLUSION:Postural exercises did not result in a better outcome than strength and fitness exercises. However, 55% of visual display unit workers with early non-specific work-related upper limb disorders reported being free of complaints one year after both interventions were commenced. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN15872455.
RCT Entities:
QUESTION: Are postural exercises delivered by Mensendieck/Cesar therapists more effective in decreasing pain, reducing disability and improving health-related quality of life in visual display unit workers with early non-specific work-related upper limb disorders than strength and fitness exercises delivered by physiotherapists? DESIGN: Randomised trial with concealed allocation and intention-to-treat analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-eight (6 drop-outs) visual display unit workers with early non-specific work-related upper limb disorders. INTERVENTION: One group received 10 weeks of postural exercises while the other group received 10 weeks of strength and fitness exercises. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain was measured with a 10-cm visual analogue scale, disability was measured with the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire, and health-related quality of life was measured with the Short Form-36. Number of participants experiencing upper limb complaints was also collected. Outcome measures were collected at baseline and again at 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in decrease in pain between the groups at 3 months (0.6 cm, 95% CI 0.0 to 1.2), 6 months (0.2, 95% CI -0.3 to 0.7), or at 12 months (0.1, 95% CI -0.6 to 0.8). Differences between the groups in upper limb complaints, disability, and health related quality of life were also small and not significant at any measurement occasion. CONCLUSION: Postural exercises did not result in a better outcome than strength and fitness exercises. However, 55% of visual display unit workers with early non-specific work-related upper limb disorders reported being free of complaints one year after both interventions were commenced. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN15872455.
Authors: Arianne P Verhagen; Sita M A Bierma-Zeinstra; Alex Burdorf; Siobhán M Stynes; Henrica C W de Vet; Bart W Koes Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2013-12-12
Authors: Nathan Hutting; J Bart Staal; Yvonne F Heerkens; Josephine A Engels; Maria W G Nijhuis-van der Sanden Journal: Trials Date: 2013-08-16 Impact factor: 2.279
Authors: D Van Eerd; C Munhall; E Irvin; D Rempel; S Brewer; A J van der Beek; J T Dennerlein; J Tullar; K Skivington; C Pinion; B Amick Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2015-11-08 Impact factor: 4.402