Pain catastrophizing and lower physical fitness in a sample of computer screen workers with early non-specific upper limb disorders: a case-control study.

In computer workers psychological factors and physical fitness may play an important role in the onset and course of non-specific work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD) beyond socio-demographic factors. Based on our experiences in daily practice we assumed that pain catastrophizing and other psychological variables such as perfectionism, anxiety state and trait, and low physical fitness, are possibly associated with the occurrence of WRULD. We aim to study the association between pain catastrophizing, perfectionism, anxiety (state and trait), physical fitness, sex and level of education and the occurrence of WRULD, controlling for age as a confounder.

No difference between postural exercises and strength and fitness exercises for early, non-specific, work-related upper limb disorders in visual display unit workers: a randomised trial.

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.