To
improve
health
and musculoskeletal
disorder
(MSD)
outcomes
generally,
three
conditions
need
to
be
met:
1)
The
choice
of
intervention
must
be
well
chosen
to
address
the
risk
factors
identified;
2)
the
type
of
intervention
is
known
to
be
efficacious
for
the
setting
of
interest;
and
3)
it
is
implemented
widely
and
intensely.
To
focus
on
the
latter,
recent
studies
are
throwing
light
on
the
intensity
of
interventions
by
documenting
exposure
changes,
coverage
and
adherence,
and
the
connections
between
the
reported
exposure
changes
and
health
changes
reported.
In
order
to
achieve
intensity,
an
intervention
must
substantially
reduce
exposure
in
high
risk
tasks,
must
address
the
highest
risks,
either
peaks
or
long
term
exposures,
be
available
to
all
those
with
high
exposures,
and
must
be
used
by
those
same
people.
If
any
of
these
factors
are
small,
the
resulting
intensity
of
the
intervention
will
be
low
and
the
probability
of
improved
musculoskeletal
health
outcomes
will
also
be
low.
Moreover,
to
have
a
societally
useful
impact,
efficacious
interventions
must
be
implemented
in
a
large
proportion
of
workplaces
with
risk
factors.
Yet,
it
appears
that
few
workplaces
are
substantial
controlling
their
MSD
hazards.
For more information, read the editorial Why have we not solved the MSD problem?, by Dr. Richard Wells.