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Review
. 2018 Jun 1;16(2):225-235.
doi: 10.5327/Z1679443520180133. eCollection 2018.

Effects of physical exercise at the workplace for treatment of low back pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Roberto Rodrigues Bandeira Tosta Maciel  1 , Natasha Cordeiro Dos Santos  1 , Daniel Deivson Alves Portella  1 , Priscila Godoy Januário Martins Alves  1 , Bruno Prata Martinez  1
Affiliations
Review

Effects of physical exercise at the workplace for treatment of low back pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Roberto Rodrigues Bandeira Tosta Maciel et al. Rev Bras Med Trab. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Background: The prevalence of low back pain is high among the economically active population. Low back pain reduces productivity and causes absenteeism, impaired quality of life and leaves of absence. Several measures were suggested to reduce the occurrence of this occupational condition, among which physical exercise at the workplace stands out.

Aim: To analyze studies which assessed physical exercise at the workplace for treatment of low back pain.

Methods: The present study consisted of a systematic review with meta-analysis. An electronic search was conducted on database MEDLINE using keywords "workplace," "low back pain" and "exercise," synonyms and headings located on Health Sciences Descriptors and Medical Subject Headings. We considered all the studies that included physical exercise at the workplace and defined low back pain as outcome.

Results: We located 499 potential studies and finally included 15 for review. The duration of treatment varied from 3 weeks to 18 months, and the main interventions were strength and stretching exercises and muscle relaxation.

Conclusions: The meta-analysis showed that physical exercise at the workplace did not reduce the occurrence of low back pain (difference of means=0.62, 95%CI -0.8-2.04, p<0.4). The present systematic review was registered in database PROSPERO, registration number CRD42017071563.

Contexto: A dor lombar apresenta alta prevalência na população economicamente ativa, promovendo a diminuição da capacidade produtiva, absenteísmo, prejuízos à qualidade de vida e afastamento previdenciário. Medidas diversas têm sido adotadas no intuito de diminuir esse infortúnio laboral, destacando-se a prática de exercício físico no ambiente de trabalho.

Objetivo: O objetivo desta revisão foi identificar estudos que utilizaram o exercício físico realizado no ambiente laboral para tratamento da dor lombar.

Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática com metanálise. Foi realizada busca eletrônica na base de dados MEDLINE utilizando os descritores “workplace”; “low back pain” e “exercise” e os respectivos sinônimos e palavras-chaves identificados nos Descritores em Ciências da Saúde e no Medical Subject Headings.

Resultados: Foram considerados todos os estudos que adotaram exercício físico no ambiente de trabalho e possuíam desfechos relacionados à dor lombar. Foram encontrados 499 estudos em potencial, resultando na inclusão final de 15 artigos. O tempo de tratamento variou de 3 semanas a 18 meses, e as principais intervenções foram exercícios de força, alongamentos e relaxamento muscular.

Conclusão: A metanálise demonstrou que não há efeito do exercício físico no ambiente de trabalho na redução da percepção da dor lombar (diferença entre médias=0.62, CI95%, -0.8,2.04; p<0.4). Esta revisão sistemática foi registrada no PROSPERO, sob protocolo CRD42017071563.

Keywords: exercise; low back pain; workplace.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Selection of randomized controlled studies located on electronic search, Salvador, 2017.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Workplace intervention involving physical exercise vs. controls, Salvador, 2017.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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