The behavior of pain in response to sit-stand workstations: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: Chronic neck and/or low back pain (LBP) is the most common musculoskeletal complaint among individuals employed in sedentary jobs. Literature is available on the behavior of chronic neck and LBP in response to sit-stand workstations (SSW) but lacks a clinically significant consensus.Objective: The purpose of this systematic review is to report the clinical significance of the behavior of pain in response to SSW in comparison to traditional desks.Methods: Articles were retrieved from electronic databases. Inclusion criteria were 1) employees in work environments that entail prolonged sitting time and with chronic neck and/or LBP, 2) intervention of SSW, and 3) the report on pain as an outcome. Exclusion criteria included 1) children or students, 2) intervention of mobility desks (i.e. treadmill, cycling), and 3) absence of pain prior to the study. Risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro scale.Results: 3 studies were reported as Cohen’s d and revealed alleviation of neck and/or LBP with small to trivial clinical effect sizes. 1 study was calculated as odds ratio; its participants were more likely to report neck pain but less likely to report LBP with SSW compared to traditional desks. Another study reported results in p-values and were statistically significant for neck pain and insignificant for LBP.Conclusion: Overall, findings suggest SSW may not absolutely relieve chronic neck or LBP but should not be excluded from pain management recommendations due to potential of positive impact.