The McKenzie Method versus guideline-based advice in the treatment of sciatica: 24-month outcomes of a randomised clinical trial.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of a McKenzie Method intervention in patients with sciatica with guideline-based patient education.

Design: Multi-centre, assessor-blinded, parallel-group, randomised trial.

Setting: Two tertiary hospitals providing operative spinal care.

Sickness absence and return to work among employees with knee osteoarthritis with and without total knee arthroplasty: a prospective register linkage study among Finnish public sector employees.

Objective: This study aimed to examine duration of sickness absence due to knee osteoarthritis (OA) and sustained return to work (RTW) among municipal employees, who had at least one compensated sickness absence period due to knee OA. The contribution of sociodemographic characteristics, diabetes and previous sickness absence were assessed. We differentiated between participants with and without total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Transcultural adaption and preliminary evaluation of "understanding low back pain" patient education booklet.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is the number one cause of disability globally. LBP is a symptom associated with biological, psychological and social factors, and serious causes for pain are very rare. Unhelpful beliefs about LBP and inappropriate imaging are common.

Authors' response: Letter to the Editor concerning OCRA as preferred method in ISO standards on biomechanical risk factors.

We thank Drs. Colombini and Occhipinti for their personal reply to our Discussion Paper (1, 2). We share the overall goal of preventing workplace injuries and welcome a discussion of the ISO process on workplace ergonomics standards; this was the primary aim of the Discussion Paper.

Scientific basis of ISO standards on biomechanical risk factors.

Among other purposes, companies and regulatory agencies from around the world often adopt International Standard Organization (ISO) standards to determine acceptable practices, equipment and criteria for preventing occupational injuries and illnesses. ISO standards are based on a consensus among individuals who participate in the process. This discussion paper examines the scientific process for the development of several ISO standards on biomechanical factors, comparing it with processes used by other professional organizations, including scientific committees working on the development of clinical guidelines.

Experiences and attitudes about physical activity and exercise in patients with chronic pain: a qualitative interview study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe how patients with chronic pain experience physical activity and exercise (PA&E).

Method: This qualitative interview study included 16 women and two men suffering from chronic pain and referred to a multimodal pain rehabilitation program. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the interviews.

A practical guidance for assessments of sedentary behavior at work: A PEROSH initiative.

Sedentary behavior is defined as sitting or lying with low energy expenditure. Humans in industrialized societies spend an increasing amount of time in sedentary behaviors every day. This has been associated with detrimental health outcomes.

An optimal sampling approach to modelling whole-body vibration exposure in all-terrain vehicle driving.

Exposure to whole-body vibration (WBV) presents an occupational health risk and several safety standards obligate to measure WBV. The high cost of direct measurements in large epidemiological studies raises the question of the optimal sampling for estimating WBV exposures given by a large variation in exposure levels in real worksites. This paper presents a new approach to addressing this problem.

Associations between psychological factors and the effect of home-based physical exercise in women with chronic neck and shoulder pain.

Background: Exercise is often used in the treatment of chronic neck and shoulder muscle pain. It is likely that psychological aspects have an impact on the results of exercise-based treatments.

Objectives: (1) To examine the associations between psychological factors and the effect of a home-based physical exercise intervention.

Individualized methods for the diagnosis and treatment of nonspecific lower back pain.

Lower back pain is globally the most common problem interfering with functional capacity, and the recognition of causes that are serious and require specific therapy is essential in its diagnosis. Provision of information for a person suffering from lower back pain is essential. In some patients psychosocial factors prolong the back pain and potential incapacity for work.

Efficacy of temporary work modifications on disability related to musculoskeletal pain or depressive symptoms--study protocol for a controlled trial.

Introduction: Previous research suggests that work with a suitable workload may promote health and work retention in people with disability. This study will examine whether temporary work modifications at the early stage of work disability are effective in enhancing return to work (RTW) or staying at work among workers with musculoskeletal or depressive symptoms.

Methods And Analysis: A single-centre controlled trial with modified stepped wedge design will be carried out in eight enterprises and their occupational health services (OHSs) in nine cities in Finland.

Transcultural adaption and psychometric properties of the STarT Back Screening Tool among Finnish low back pain patients.

Purpose: The STarT Back Screening Tool (SBST) is a 9-item questionnaire designed for screening low back pain (LBP) patients into three prognostic groups for stratified care. The stratified care approach has proven to be clinically more beneficial and cost-effective than the current best physiotherapy practice. The objective of this study was to translate, culturally adapt and study psychometric properties of the SBST among Finnish LBP patients.

Predictors of sickness absence related to musculoskeletal pain: a two-year follow-up study of workers in municipal kitchens.

Objective: We studied predictors of sickness absences (SA) due to musculoskeletal pain over two years among 386 municipal female kitchen workers.

Methods: Pain and SA periods (no/yes) due to pain in seven sites during the past three months were assessed at 3-month intervals over two years by questionnaire. Age, musculoskeletal pain, multisite pain (pain in ≥3 sites), musculoskeletal and other somatic diseases, depressive symptoms, physical and psychosocial workload, body mass index, smoking, and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) at baseline were considered as predictors.

Evaluation of pain and function after two home exercise programs in a clinical trial on women with chronic neck pain - with special emphasises on completers and responders.

Background: Different types of exercises can help manage chronic neck pain. Supervised exercise interventions are widely used, but these protocols require substantial resources. The aim of this trial, which focused on adherence, was to evaluate two home exercise interventions.

Placement of forearm surface EMG electrodes in the assessment of hand loading in manual tasks.

Unlabelled: Surface electromyography (EMG) is commonly used to study the loading of the forearm. Pro-supination movements cause surface electrodes to move in relation to the underlying muscles. We studied the effects of different electrode locations and forearm postures on the association between the EMG signals and external hand load in a laboratory experiment.

Variation in work tasks in relation to pinch grip strength among middle-aged female dentists.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the relationship of task variation during dental work history with pinch grip strength among dentists.

Methods: We measured pinch grip strength among 295 female Finnish dentists aged 45-63 years. Variation in dental work tasks during work history was empirically defined by cluster analysis.

Physical workload, leisure-time physical activity, obesity and smoking as predictors of multisite musculoskeletal pain. A 2-year prospective study of kitchen workers.

Objectives: The aim of this prospective study was to examine the role of physical workload, leisure-time physical activity, obesity and smoking in predicting the occurrence and course of multisite musculoskeletal pain (MSP).

Methods: Data on physical and psychosocial workload, lifestyle factors and MSP were based on questionnaire surveys of 385 Finnish female kitchen workers. MSP (defined as pain at three or more of seven sites) during the past 3 months was measured repeatedly at 3-month intervals over 2 years.

Health-related effects of early part-time sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Previously we reported that early part-time sick leave enhances return to work (RTW) among employees with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). This paper assesses the health-related effects of this intervention.

Methods: Patients aged 18-60 years who were unable to perform their regular work due to MSD were randomized to part- or full-time sick leave groups.

Proper manual handling techniques to prevent low back pain, a Cochrane systematic review.

Training and provision of assistive devices are considered major interventions to prevent and treat low back pain (LBP) among workers exposed to manual material handling (MMH). To establish the effectiveness of training and provision of assistive devices in preventing and treating LBP an update of a Cochrane literature review was performed to November 2010. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies with a concurrent control group (CCTs) were included.

Return to work after early part-time sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of early part-time sick leave on return to work (RTW) and sickness absence among patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in six occupational health units of medium- and large-size enterprises. Patients aged 18-60 years with musculoskeletal disorders (N=63) unable to perform their regular work were randomly allocated to part- or full-time sick leave.

Manual material handling advice and assistive devices for preventing and treating back pain in workers.

Background: Training and the provision of assistive devices are considered major interventions to prevent back pain and its related disability among workers exposed to manual material handling (MMH).

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of MMH advice and training and the provision of assistive devices in preventing and treating back pain.

Search Strategy: We searched CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2011, issue 1), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Nioshtic, CISdoc, Science Citation Index, and PsychLIT to February 2011.

The role of past and current strenuous physical work in the association between professional car driving and chronic low-back syndromes: a population-based study.

Study Design: Population-based cross-sectional study of clinically assessed low back syndromes.

Objective: To investigate whether exposure to professional car driving, either alone or in combination with strenuous physical work is associated with clinically defined sciatica or other clinically diagnosed chronic low back syndromes.

Summary Of Background Data: Several studies have found an association between professional driving and back disorders, but drivers' histories of heavy physical work tasks has rarely been taken into account.

Mental stress and psychosocial factors at work in relation to multiple-site musculoskeletal pain: a longitudinal study of kitchen workers.

Among 385 female kitchen workers, we examined (1) whether mental stress and psychosocial factors at work (job control, skill discretion, supervisor support, co-worker relationships, and hurry) predict multiple-site musculoskeletal pain (MSP; defined as pain at ≥ 3 of seven sites) and (2) reversedly, whether MSP predicts these psychosocial factors. Data were collected by questionnaire at 3-month intervals during 2 years. Trajectory analysis was applied.