Work-related neck-shoulder pain: the role of cognitive-behavioural factors and remotely supervised treatment

Neck-shoulder pain related to computerwork has become a major sociomedical and economic problem because it affects a considerable part of the working population. In the Netherlands, subjects with these complaints are often treated with medications (e.g. muscle relaxants), ergonomic adjustments and/or physiotherapy. Whereas these interventions achieve beneficial effects in some subjects, the complaints and associated disabilities remain in a considerable part of the subjects. The aim of the present study was to contribute to more effective and efficient treatment of neck-shoulder pain related to computerwork by 1) obtaining better understanding of the role of cognitive-behavioural factors in the occurrence and persistence of neckshoulder pain, and 2) investigating the feasibility of an innovative and highly-intensive treatment, e.g. remotely supervised myofeedback treatment.