BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders are of multi-factorial origin, including individual, physical, and psychosocial factors. An effective education program for musculoskeletal disorders should include predisposing factors. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effect of risk factor education on pain intensity and disability levels compared to a home-based exercise program in office workers with nonspecific neck or low back pain. METHODS: A pilot cluster randomized clinical trial was conducted in 46 workers with neck or low back pain. The education group received checklists of risk factors and handbooks providing information on how to manage them. The exercise group received a home-based exercise program to manage their neck or low back pain. The primary outcome measures were pain intensity and disability levels. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in pain intensity or disability level between groups at baseline and follow-ups. However, neck and low back pain intensity, but not disability level, at the 3-month and 6-month follow-ups was significantly lower than those at baseline in both groups. CONCLUSION: Risk factor education was not more effective than the home-based exercise program in terms of pain intensity or disability reduction in workers with nonspecific neck or low back pain.

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