Research Plus

Preventing musculoskeletal injuries in healthcare

A systematic review and best-evidence synthesis finds that physical exercise or multi-component patient-handling interventions are beneficial in protecting musculoskeletal health in healthcare settings. There is moderate evidence that a broad range of interventions reduce musculoskeletal injuries and their consequences. Neither patient handling training nor cognitive behaviour training alone improve musculoskeletal health. There is insufficient evidence on the effectiveness in healthcare settings of back schools, participatory ergonomics and intensive off-site injury-prevention programmes.

Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation 2010; 20: 199–219.

Tags back pain evidence based practice

Occupational Health at Work August/September 2010 (vol. 07/2) pp38