Abstract
This systematic review aimed to analyze the effects of a physical exercise (PE) program on low back pain (LBP) symptoms of office workers and the modification of flexibility and range of motion (ROM), muscular strength, and quality of life (QoL). A literature research was performed on PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, and SPORTDiscus from April to May 2018. The keyword “low back pain” was associated with “office worker” OR “VDT operators” OR “office employees” OR “workplace” AND “exercise”, OR “exercise therapy” OR “physical activity”. Inclusion criteria were a home- or work-based exercise protocol for office workers with LBP symptoms and pre- to post-intervention evaluation of LBP symptoms. Three researchers independently examined all abstracts. The modified Cochrane methodological quality criteria were used for quality assessment and 11 articles were included. Exercise protocols were performed from 6 weeks to 12 months, 1–5 day per week, lasting 10–60 min for each session. Physical Exercise in the workplace improved all the considered outcomes. The best improvement was recorded in supervised protocols and in video-supported protocols performed in the workplace. The effect may be generated with small duration sessions during the working day, with only 10–15 min of adapted exercise to be performed 3–5 days per week.
Highlights
Low back pain (LBP) is a common worldwide disorder defined as a muscular tension, stiffness or pain localized below the rib margin and above the inferior gluteal folds, involving or not the leg [1]
The results showed significant reductions of LBP at rest and during movement, while there was no significant modification for the control group which performed only TENS and hot pack treatments
The results of this systematic review showed that exercise programs in the workplace were effective and able to reduce LBP symptoms in office workers, improving muscle strength, flexibility, and increasing their quality of life
Summary
Low back pain (LBP) is a common worldwide disorder defined as a muscular tension, stiffness or pain localized below the rib margin and above the inferior gluteal folds, involving or not the leg [1]. Physical exercise (PE) is strongly recommended for the management of LBP [3] as a prevention treatment [7]. Idiopathic LBP is usually associated with low levels of physical activity independent of pain-related disability. PE should be increased for the prevention of LBP, including as treatment for several types of work-related LBP [8]. It seemed that more active employees are more productive, requiring less sick leave, and having overall lower healthcare costs [9]. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the current literature regarding exercise protocols developed for the work environment for the management of LBP symptoms in office workers
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