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Aim The purpose of this systematic literature review is to assess the benefits of workplace-based occupational therapies and interventions, including acute and preventive medication, on headache intensity and frequency, related disability as well as work-related outcomes. Methods A search of the literature was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane library, CINAHL and Embase using terms related to headache, workplace and occupational health. The Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias assessment tool was used on individual studies to assess internal validity and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system was applied to studies by clinical outcome and used to rate quality of evidence. Results Fifteen articles were included in the systematic review. None of them were classified as low risk of bias according to the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias. This systematic review found preliminary low-quality evidence suggesting that exercise and acupuncture can reduce workers' headache pain intensity, frequency and related disability. Conclusion Although this systematic review provided preliminary low evidence in favour of work-based intervention, studies with more rigorous designs and methodologies are needed to provide further evidence of the effectiveness of workplace-based headache management strategies.

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Background: Lumbopelvic pain (LBPP) affects 45-81% of pregnant women, and 25 to 43% of these women report persistent LBPP beyond 3 months after giving birth. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between physical activity, weight status, anxiety and LBPP symptoms evolution in postpartum women.Methods: This is a prospective observational cohort study with 3 time point assessments (baseline (T0), 3 months (T3) and 6 months (T6) later). Women with persistent LBPP 3 to 12 months after delivery were recruited. At each time point, pain disability was assessed with the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), physical activity with Fitbit Flex monitors, and anxiety with the French-Canadian version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Weight was recorded using a standardized method. Pain intensity (0-100 point pain intensity numerical rating scale) and frequency were assessed using a standardized text message on a weekly basis throughout the study.Results: Thirty-two women were included (postpartum age: 6.6 ± 2.0 months; maternal age: 28.3 ± 3.8 years old; body weight: 72.9 ± 19.1 kg) and 27 completed the T6 follow-up. Disability, pain intensity and frequency improved at T6 (p<0.001). Women lost a mean of 1.9 ± 4.5 kg at T6 and this weight loss was correlated with reduction in LBPP intensity (r=.479; p= .011) and LBPP frequency (r=.386; p=.047), PGQ (r=.554; p=.003) and ODI scores (r=.494; p=.009). Improvement in ODI scores at T6 was correlated with the number of inactive minutes at T3 (r=-.453; p=.026) and T6 (r=-.457; p=.019), and with daily steps at T6 (r=.512; p=.006).

AimTo further the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying tension-type headache (TTH) by comparing the endurance and strength of neck extensor muscles under acute muscle fatigue in participants with TTH and asymptomatic participants.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of neck extensor muscle performance. Asymptomatic participants and participants with TTH were recruited via social media platforms and from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières community and employees. A total of 44 participants with TTH and 40 asymptomatic participants took part in an isometric neck extensor endurance task performed at 60% of their maximum voluntary contraction. Inclusion criteria for the headache group were to be older than 18 years old and to fulfil the International Headache Society classification’s criteria for either frequent episodic or chronic TTH. Clinical (self-efficacy, anxiety, neck disability and kinesiophobia) and physical parameters (neck extensors maximum voluntary contraction, endurance time, muscle fatigue) as well as characteristics of headache episodes (intensity, frequency and associated disability) were collected for all participants. Surface electromyography was used to document upper trapezius, splenius capitis and sternocleidomastoids muscle activity and muscle fatigue.ResultsBoth groups displayed similar neck extensor muscle endurance capacity with a mean difference of 6.2 s (p>0.05) in favour of the control group (control=68.1±32.3; TTH=61.9±20.1). Similarly, participants in the headache group showed comparable neck extensor muscle strength (95.9±30.4 N) to the control group (111.3±38.7 N). Among participants with TTH, those scoring as severely incapacitated by headaches were the ones with higher neck-related disability (F[1,44]=10.77; p=0.002), the more frequent headache episodes (F[1,44]=6.70; p=0.01) and higher maximum headache intensity (F[1,44]=10.81; p=0.002).ConclusionA fatigue task consisting of isometric neck extension cannot efficiently differentiate participants with TTH from asymptomatic participants.