Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42865597›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in public health2026

Musculoskeletal symptoms among teleworkers assessed using validated tools: a systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis.

Monika Zawadka-Kunikowska, Mateusz Tomanek, Anna Skarpańska-Stejnborn, Zofia Adamczyk, Wojciech Kaźmierczak, Łukasz Rzepiński, Stanisław Krajewski, Mirosława Cieślicka

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

8 authors.

Monika Zawadka-Kunikowska *Department of Human Physiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Mateusz Tomanek *Department of Business Excellence Institute of Management and Quality Sciences Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland.
Anna Skarpańska-StejnbornDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sport Sciences in Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poznan University of Physical Education, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland.
Zofia AdamczykSRC Audiology and Foniatry, Nicolaus Copernicus University Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Wojciech KaźmierczakDepartment of Human Physiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Łukasz RzepińskiDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Science and Technology, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Stanisław KrajewskiDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Science and Technology, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Mirosława CieślickaDepartment of Human Physiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are common in teleworkers, but reported prevalence rates are inconsistent. This study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and to quantify ergonomic risk in teleworkers through single-arm meta-analysis. Methods: Two reviewers searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCO from database inception to March 19, 2026 for observational studies reporting musculoskeletal symptoms or ergonomic risk in teleworkers assessed using validated instruments. A random-effects single-arm meta-analysis was performed to calculate pooled prevalence estimates and pooled mean scores with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and prediction intervals (PI). Results: Twenty-one studies were included. Nordic-based questionnaires ( Conclusion: Very low-certainty evidence suggests that neck, shoulder, and low back symptoms are prevalent among teleworkers. Pooled ROSA estimates indicated moderate ergonomic risk, supporting the need for preventive ergonomic strategies and standardized assessment methods in teleworking populations. Systematic review registration: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/EMVYG.

Indexed as

Musculoskeletal DiseasesOccupational DiseasesTeleworkingErgonomicsHumansPrevalenceSurveys and Questionnairesergonomic riskmeta-analysismusculoskeletal symptomsNordic musculoskeletal questionnaireRapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA)remote worktelework

Identifiers

PMID42865597
PMCPMC13654979

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

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.