Social inequality in working life expectancy in Sweden.

Background: In Sweden there is a socioeconomic divide between white and blue collar workers with respect to the risk for premature exit from working life. Disability pension has long represented a major reason behind early exits.

Objective: The present investigation aimed at studying the effect on socioeconomic groups of new guidelines issued by the Swedish government in 2006, limiting the possibilities for applicants to be granted pension on medical grounds.

Has the participation of older employees in the workforce increased? Study of the total Swedish population regarding exit from working life.

Aims: This study investigated: (i) the workforce participation in Sweden among older employees before and after changes in eligibility for sickness absence and unemployment compensation by a social insurance reform; and (ii) absence and early exit mechanisms from the workforce for different professions by looking at sickness benefits, disability pension and unemployment, early statutory pension, employment pension and unregistered economic supply.

Methods: A register-based follow-up study of the total Swedish workforce population of 55-64-year-olds, measured in 2004 and 2011.

Results: The total proportion of individuals aged 55-64 in the workforce increased between 2004 and 2011, but the increase was mostly in professions with lower educational requirements, a lower salary and dominated by women.

Psychosocial work conditions, perceived stress, perceived muscular tension, and neck/shoulder symptoms among medical secretaries.

Purpose: Unfavorable psychosocial working conditions are hypothesized to lead to perceived stress, which, in turn, can be related to an increased risk of development of neck/shoulder symptoms through increased and sustained muscle activation. The aim of the present study was to test this hypothesized process model among medical secretaries, a female-dominated profession characterized by a high amount of visual display unit use and a high prevalence of neck/shoulder symptoms.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire survey was conducted among medical secretaries (n = 200).

Myofeedback training and intensive muscular strength training to decrease pain and improve work ability among female workers on long-term sick leave with neck pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Unlabelled: The theoretical framework is that muscle tension in the neck is related to insufficient muscular rest and is a risk factor for chronic pain and reduced work ability. Promoting muscle strength and muscle rest may increase work ability and reduce neck pain.

Objectives: To test whether myofeedback training or intensive strength training leads to decreased pain and increased work ability in women on long-term sick leave.

Prognostic factors for the effect of a myofeedback-based teletreatment service.

We investigated the potential prognostic factors for clinically relevant improvements in pain intensity and pain-related disability after myofeedback-based teletreatment. Sixty-five female computer users, 56 female patients with whiplash-associated disorders and 18 female patients with non-specific neck and shoulder pain participated in the study. They received myofeedback-based teletreatment or usual treatment.