Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41037652›Full record

Trial reportScandinavian journal of work, environment & health2026

A multi-component intervention (NEXpro) reduces neck pain: a randomized controlled trial among Swiss office workers.

Andrea Martina Aegerter, Venerina Johnston, Thomas Volken, Gisela Sjøgaard, Markus Josef Ernst, Hannu Luomajoki, Achim Elfering, Markus Melloh, NEXpro collaboration group

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Andrea Martina AegerterZurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Katharina Sulzer-Platz 9, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland. andrea.aegerter@unilu.ch.
Venerina Johnston
Thomas Volken
Gisela Sjøgaard
Markus Josef Ernst
Hannu Luomajoki
Achim Elfering
Markus Melloh
NEXpro collaboration group

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study aimed to investigate the effect of a 12-week multi-component intervention on neck pain among Swiss office workers.

methodsBetween January 2020 and April 2021, we conducted a stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial involving 120 office workers (18-65 years) without severe neck problems from two Swiss companies. Participants started in the control condition and sequentially transitioned to the intervention condition by their cluster. The 12-week intervention included neck exercises, health-promotion workshops, and workplace ergonomics. Neck pain was assessed by intensity [numeric rating scale (NRS) 0=no pain, 10=maximum pain], frequency (days with neck pain in the past 28 days), and disability [Neck Disability Index (NDI) 0%=no disability, 100%=maximum disability). Mixed-effects models were used to assess the intervention's effect on neck pain intensity, frequency, and disability.

resultsThis analysis includes 517 observations (295 control, 222 intervention). At baseline, the mean age was 43.7 years [standard deviation years (SD) 9.8], and 71.7% were female. The average neck pain intensity was NRS 2.4 (SD 2.0), frequency 6.8 days (SD 8.0), and disability 11.8% (SD 9.9). A statistically significant effect favoring the multi-component intervention was found for neck pain frequency, with a marginal predicted mean reduction of 1.55 days [95% confidence interval (CI) -2.84--0.26], and neck disability, with a marginal predicted mean reduction of NDI 2.23% (95% CI -2.96--1.68).

conclusionsThis study provides evidence of the effectiveness of a 12-week multi-component intervention in reducing neck pain among office workers. Specifically, office workers experienced neck pain less frequently and with a milder impact on daily activities. Further research is needed to investigate long-term effects.

Indexed as

Health PromotionNeck PainAdolescentAdultAgedErgonomicsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementSwitzerlandWorkplaceYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID41037652
PMCPMC12781098

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.