Title: Systematic Review: Ergonomic Interventions For Reducing Musculoskeletal Disorders In Office Workers

Background: Office workers have a high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), especially in the neck, shoulders, upper back and lower back. Employers and clinicians implement ergonomic interventions — workstation adjustments, sit-stand desks, ergonomic chairs, training/education, participatory ergonomics, and multi-component programs — to reduce MSD incidence and severity. Evidence about which ergonomic strategies reliably reduce pain, discomfort, absence, and improve function is mixed and varies by intervention type and study quality. Objective: To synthesize randomized and quasi-experimental evidence on the effectiveness of ergonomic interventions for preventing and reducing musculoskeletal disorders among office workers. Methods: Systematic search (MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science) for randomized controlled trials, cluster-RCTs, controlled before–after studies and systematic reviews published through 2025. Outcomes: musculoskeletal pain (neck, shoulder, low back, upper limb), self-reported discomfort, sick leave, work performance, and ergonomic risk measures. Data were extracted into a study table (author, year, study design, population, intervention, comparator, outcome/conclusion, link). Risk of bias and heterogeneity were assessed qualitatively. Results: Evidence shows moderate support that multi-component interventions (ergonomic training + workstation adjustments/exercise) and participatory interventions reduce self-reported discomfort and pain in the short-to-medium term. Sit-stand desks consistently reduce sitting time and sometimes reduce low-back discomfort, but health effects on MSDs are small to moderate. Active ergonomic training (practical, participatory) often performs better than passive education (leaflets). Study heterogeneity, variable outcome measures, and short follow-up limit certainty. Conclusions: Ergonomic interventions, particularly multi-component and participatory programs and active training combined with workstation changes, can reduce musculoskeletal symptoms among office workers. High-quality, adequately powered RCTs with standardized outcomes and longer follow-up are still needed to confirm sustained clinical benefits.