Work from home-related musculoskeletal pain during the COVID-19 pandemic: A rapid review.

Objective: This rapid review explores the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain symptoms associated with work from home conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted a rapid review across three databases (i.e., PubMed, Medline, and CINAHL) for observational studies that report on the musculoskeletal functions among individuals placed in a work from home setup due to the COVID-19 pandemic, published between December 2019-August 2021. Two independent review authors searched, appraised, and extracted data from the articles included in the final review. A descriptive approach was used to synthesize the narrative evidence. Results: Forty-four articles were initially identified. A total of six (n = 6) studies met the full inclusion criteria and were included. Among them, there were five cross-sectional studies and one case-control study. The highest prevalence reported were neck pain (20.3-76.9%), low back pain (19.5-74.1%), and shoulder pain (3.0-72.9%). The most common instrument used was the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. One of the common professions that report musculoskeletal pain symptoms associated with work from home conditions were individuals working in the academic sector. Conclusion: The increased prevalence of musculoskeletal pain symptoms associated with work from home conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic is a concern that should be addressed to prevent negative neuromusculoskeletal outcomes. Systematic review registration: This review is in the Open Science Framework registry (osf.io/vxs4w) and the PROSPERO database (CRD42021266097). Implications for practice: •A system in the workplace should be developed for the early detection of musculoskeletal pain.•Apart from standard occupational safety and proper ergonomic, sustainable policies and programs that address the mental health issues of employees should also be addressed.•Programs addressing musculoskeletal pain should be available online for employees to address accessibility and ubiquity.

Work-from-home-related musculoskeletal pain during the COVID-19 pandemic: A rapid review protocol.

Background: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has forced various workforce industries to work from home. The work-from-home set-up has exposed some workers to some office-related work, typically not included in their jobs, consequently exposing them to an increased risk for developing musculoskeletal pain. Methods: We will search PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL for observational studies published between May 2020-June 2021. This review will include published peer-reviewed studies in the English language. We will include studies that recruited adults aged 20-65 from any work industry reporting on outcomes related to musculoskeletal functions (i.e., pain, disorder, condition, etc.). Two independent reviewers will screen the search results. Two independent reviewers will accomplish risk of bias assessment using the JBI-MAStARI critical appraisal tools. Likewise, data extraction will be performed by one reviewer and verified by a second reviewer. Pooled prevalence estimates will be generated using Revman V.5.2.1, where Forest plots will be generated to determine overall estimates of random-effects and confidence intervals. To quantify heterogeneity, we will index the I 2 and X 2 p-value. A narrative synthesis summarised into tables and themes will likewise be used to summarize the extracted data. Discussion: A rapid review methodology was chosen to rapidly synthesize the available literature on the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain associated with work-from-home conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is essential in informing health programs and policies that address both the public and private industry sectors. Systematic review registration: This is registered in the PROSPERO Registry (CRD42021266097).