This article provides an overview of current literature about workplace-related musculoskeletal disorders from a biopsychosocial perspective. The authors conclude that disability management and early intervention efforts can only be meaningful within the context of targeted interventions, including mechanisms for psychosocial screening. In addition, they suggest that return to work should be considered an integral, rather than superficial, contribution to the rehabilitative process.
References
1.
AllreadW. G.MarrasW. S. (2006). Does personality affect the risk of developing musculoskeletal discomfort?Theoretical Issues in Ergonomic Science, 7(2), 149–167.
2.
BrookerA.ColeD.Hogg-JohnsonS.SmithJ.FrankJ. (2001). Modified work: Prevalence and characteristics in a sample of workers with soft tissue injuries. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 43(3), 276–284.
CatchloveR.CohenK. (1982). Effects of a directive return to work approach in the treatment of workman's compensation patients with chronic pain. Pain, 14, 181–191.
5.
CooperJ.TateR.YassiA. (1997). Work hardening in an early return to work program for nurses with back injury. Work, 8, 149–156.
6.
CoutuM.DurandM.LoiselP.GouletC.GauthierN. (2007). Level of distress among workers undergoing work rehabilitation for musculoskeletal disorders. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 17, 289–303.
7.
DurandM. J.LoiselP.HongQ. N.CharpentierN. (2002). Helping clinicians in work disability prevention: The work disability diagnosis interview. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 12(3), 191–204.
8.
EriksenH. R.IhlebaekC.JansenJ. P.BurdorfA. (2006). The relations between psychosocial factors at work and health status among workers and home care organizations. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 13(3), 183–192.
9.
FabunmiA.OlufunmilayoO.OdunaiyaN. A. (2008). Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among nurses in University College Hospital, Ibadan. West African Journal of Nursing, 19(1), 21–24.
10.
FagarasanuM.KumarS. (2006). Musculoskeletal symptoms and support staff in a large telecommunications company. Work, 27, 137–142.
11.
FeuersteinM.HuangG.HauflerA.MillerJ. (2000). Development of a screen for predicting clinical outcomes in patients with work-related upper extremity disorders. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 42(7), 749–761.
12.
FeuersteinM.ShawW.LincolnA.MillerV.WoodP. (2003). Clinical and workplace factors associated with a return to modified duty in work-related upper extremity disorders. Pain, 102, 51–63.
13.
FjellY.AlexandersonK.KarlqvistL.BildtC. (2007). Self-reported musculoskeletal pain and working conditions among employees in the Swedish public sector. Work, 28, 33–46.
14.
FjellY.AlexandersonK.NordenmarkM.BildtC. (2008). Perceived physical strain in paid and unpaid work and the work-home interface: The associations with musculoskeletal pain and fatigue among public employees. Women and Health, 47(1), 21–44.
15.
FrancheR.CullenK.ClarkeJ.IrvinE.SinclairS.FrankJ. (2005). Workplace-based return-to-work interventions: A systematic review of the quantitative literature. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 15(4), 607–631.
16.
FrankJ.SinclairS.Hogg-JohnsonS.ShannonH.BombardierC.BeatonD. (1998). Preventing disability from work-related low back pain. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 158(12), 1625–1631.
17.
HabeckR.HuntH.Van TolB. (1998). Workplace factors associated with preventing and managing work disability. Rehabilitation Counselling Bulletin, 41, 98–143.
18.
HaldorsenE.GrasdalA.SkouenJ.RisaA.KronholmK.UrsinH. (2002). Is there a right treatment for a particular patient group? Comparison of ordinary treatment, light multidisciplinary treatment, and extensive multidisciplinary treatment for long-term sick-listed employees with musculoskeletal pain. Pain, 95, 49–63.
19.
HernandezB.KeysC.BalcazarF. (2004). Disability rights: Attitudes of private and public sector representatives. Journal of Rehabilitation, 70(1), 28–37.
20.
HlobilH.StaalJ.TwiskJ.KokeA.AriensG.SmidT. (2005). The effects of a graded activity intervention for low back pain in occupational health on sick leave, functional status and pain: 12-Month results of a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 15(4), 569–580.
21.
HouJ.ShiaoJ. S. (2006). Risk factors for musculoskeletal discomfort in nurses. Journal of Nursing Research, 14(3), 228–235.
22.
Institute for Work & Health. (2003, Summer), Putting evidence-based medicine into practice: The real challenge. Retrieved from www.iwh.on.ca/archive/pdfs/at_33.pdf
23.
JohnsonW.BaldwinM.ButlerR. (1998). Back pain and work disability: The need for a new paradigm. Industrial Relations, 37(1), 9–34.
24.
KennyD. (1999). Employers' perspectives of the provision of suitable duties in occupational rehabilitation. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 9(4), 267–276.
25.
KrauseN.DasingerL.NeuhauserF. (1998). Modified work and return to work: A review of the literature. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 8(2), 113–139.
26.
LarsmanP.PousetteA.HanseJ. Johansson (2007). Psychological and mechanical workload and musculoskeletal symptoms among female child-care workers. Occupational Ergonomics, 7, 275–287.
27.
LeeH.WilburJ.KimM.MillerA. M. (2007). Psychosocial risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the lower-back among long-haul international female flight attendants. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 61(5), 492–502.
28.
LemstraM.OlszynskiW. P. (2003). The effectiveness of standard care, early intervention, and occupational management in worker's compensation claims. Spine, 28(3), 299–304.
29.
LillefjellM. (2006). Gender differences in psychosocial influence and rehabilitation outcomes for work-disabled individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 16, 659–674.
30.
LincolnA.FeuersteinM.ShawW.MillerV. (2002). Impact of case manager training on worksite accommodations in worker's compensation claimants with upper extremity disorders. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 44(3), 237–245.
31.
LintonS.GrossD.ScultzI.MainC.CoteP.PranskyG. (2005). Prognosis and the identification of workers risking disability: Research issues and directions for future research. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 15(4), 459–474.
32.
LintonS.HellsingA.AnderssonD. (1993). A controlled study of the effects of an early intervention on acute musculoskeletal pain problems. Pain, 54, 353–359.
33.
LintonS.VlaeyenJ.OsteloR. (2002). The back pain beliefs of health care providers: Are we fear-avoidant?Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 12(4), 223–232.
34.
LoiselP.DurandM.DialloB.VachonB.CharpentierN.LabelleJ. (2003). From evidence to community practice in work rehabilitation: The Quebec experience. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 19(2), 105–113.
35.
LoiselP.LemaireJ.PoitrasS.DurandM. J.ChampagneF.DialloB. (2002). Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis of a disability prevention model for back pain management: A six year follow up study. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 5(12), 807–815.
36.
LydellM.BaigiA.MarklundB.ManssonJ. (2005). Predictive factors for work capacity in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Journal of Rehabilitative Medicine, 37, 281–285.
37.
MarholdC.LintonS.MelinL. (2001). A cognitive-behavioral return-to-work program: Effects on pain patients with a history of long-term versus short-term sick leave. Pain, 91, 155–163.
38.
MessingK.TissotF.StockS. (2008). Distal lower-extremity pain and work postures in the Quebec population. American Journal of Public Health, 98(4), 705–713.
MorseT.BruneauH.Michalak-TurcotteC.SandersM.WarrenN.DussetschlegerJ. (2007). Musculoskeletal disorders of the neck and shoulder in dental hygienist and dental hygiene students. Journal of Dental Hygiene, 81(1), 1–16.
41.
NormanK.FloderusB.HagmanM.ToomingasA.TornqvistE. W. (2008). Musculoskeletal symptoms in relation to work exposures at call center companies in Sweden. Work, 30, 201–214.
42.
PulliamC.GatchelR.RobinsonR. (2003). Challenges to early prevention and intervention: Personal experiences with adherence. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 19(2), 114–120.
43.
RainvilleJ.CarlsonN.PolatinP.GatchelR.IndahlA. (2000). Exploration of physicians? Recommendations for activities in chronic low-back pain. Spine, 25(17), 2210–2220.
44.
ReynoldsC. A.WagnerS. L.HarderH. G. (2006). Physician-stakeholder collaboration in disability management: A Canadian perspective on guidelines and expectations. Disability and Rehabilitation, 28(15), 955–963.
45.
ReynoldsC. A.WagnerS. L.HarderH. G.ZimmerL. (2007). The role of the physician in disability management: Assessing family physicians' view of discrepancies between practice and Canadian Medical Association guidelines. International Journal of Disability Management, 2, 57–72.
46.
ShawW.FeuersteinM. (2004). Generating workplace accommodations: Lessons learned from the integrated case management study. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 14(3), 207–216.
47.
ShawW.FeuersteinM.HauflerA.BerkowitzS.LopezM. (2001). Working with low back pain: Problem-solving orientation and function. Pain, 93, 129–137.
48.
ShawW.FeuersteinM.LincolnA.MillerV.WoodP. (2001). Case management services for work related upper extremity disorders. AAOHN Journal, 49(8), 378–389.
49.
ShawW.RobertsonM.PranskyG.McLellanR. (2003). Employee perspectives on the role of supervisors to prevent workplace disability after injuries. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 13(3), 129–142.
50.
SinclairS.Hogg-JohnsonS.MondlochM.ShieldsS. (1997). The effectiveness of an early intervention program for workers with soft tissue injuries: The Early Claimant Cohort Study. Spine, 22, 2919–2931.
51.
SmithD. R.ZhangX.ZhengY.ZhangB.WangR. (2006). Musculoskeletal disorders and their after-effects among health professionals in Beijing. Occupational Ergonomics, 6, 25–34.
52.
SoucyI.TruchonM.CoteD. (2006). Work-related factors contributing to chronic disability and low back pain. Work, 26, 313–326.
53.
SullivanM.FeuersteinM.GatchelR.LintonS.ParanskyG. (2005). Integrating psychosocial and behavioral interventions to achieve optimal rehabilitation outcomes. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 15(4), 475–489.
54.
SullivanM.StanishW. (2003). Psychologically based occupational rehabilitation: The pain-disability prevention program. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 19(2), 97–104.
55.
SullivanM.WardC.TrippD.FrenchD. J.AdamsJ.StandishW. D. (2005). Secondary prevention of work disability: Community-based psychosocial intervention for musculoskeletal disorders. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 15(3), 377–392.
56.
TamG.YeungS. S. (2006). Perceived effort and low back pain in non-emergency ambulance workers: Implications for rehabilitation. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 16, 231–240.
57.
TeasellR.BombardierC. (2001). Employment-related factors in chronic pain and chronic pain disability. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 17(4), S39–S45.
58.
ThorntonL. J.BarrA. E.Stuart-ButtleC.GaughanJ. P.WilsonE. R.JacksonA. D. (2008). Perceived musculoskeletal symptoms among dental students in the clinic work environment. Ergonomics, 51(4), 573–586.
59.
TsauoJ.JangY.DuC.LiangH. (2007). Incidence and risk factors of neck discomfort: A 6-month sedentary-worker cohort study. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 17, 171–179.
60.
van den HoutJ.VlaeyenJ.HeutsP.ZijlemaJ.WijnenJ. (2003). Secondary prevention of work-related disability in non-specific low back pain: Does problem-solving therapy help? A randomized clinical trial. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 19(2), 87–96.
61.
van DuijinM.LottersF.BurdorfA. (2005). Influence of modified work on return to work for employees on sick leave due to musculoskeletal complaints. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 37(3), 172–179.
62.
van DuijinM.MiedemaH.EldersL.BurdorfA. (2004). Barriers for early return-to-work with musculoskeletal disorders according to occupational health physicians and human resource managers. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 14(1), 31–41.
63.
WernerR. A.FranblauA.GellN.UlinS. S.ArmstrongT. J. (2005). Predictors of upper extremity discomfort: A longitudinal study of industrial and clerical workers. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 15(1), 27–35.
64.
WestmorlandM.WilliamsR.AmickB.ShannonH.RasheedF. (2005). Disability management in Ontario workplaces: Employees' perceptions. Disability and Rehabilitation, 27(14), 825–835.
65.
YassiA.TateR.CooperJ.SnowC.VallentyneS.KhokharJ. (1995). Early intervention for back-injured nurses at a large Canadian tertiary care hospital: An evaluation of the effectiveness and cost benefits of a two-year pilot project. Occupational Medicine, 45(4), 209–214.