Effects of 2 physical exercise programs (circuit training and brisk walk) carried out during working hours on multidimensional components of workers' health: a pilot study

• Published in: International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health Vol. 34; no. 1; pp. 39 - 51
• Main Authors: Saavedra, Jose M, Kristjánsdóttir, Hafrún, Gunnarsson, Steinn B, García-Hermoso, Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Poland Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Adult; Anthropometry; Blood pressure; Body Composition; Body mass index; Body size; Body weight; Cardiorespiratory Fitness; cardiorespiratory fitness test; Circuit training; Circuit-Based Exercise; Circuits; Employees; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Exercise - psychology; Female; Health aspects; Health Promotion - methods; Humans; Iceland; Intervention; Lifestyles; lipid profile; Lipids; Male; Mental Health; Methods; Middle Aged; Occupational Health; Occupational health and safety; Office workers; Parameters; Physical activity; Physical exercise; Physical fitness; Physical training; Pilot Projects; Psychological aspects; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Systematic review; Walking; Weight reduction; Wellness programs; Work environment; Workers; Working conditions; Working hours; Workplace; Iceland; blood pressure; body composition; mental health; cardiorespiratory fitness test; lipid profile; physical activity
• DOI: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01647
• ISSN: 1232-1087

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of 2 physical exercise programs carried out during working hours in an office work environment on health-related parameters of employees. The participants included 47 healthy office worker volunteers (aged 45±11.95 years, 27% males) who formed 3 groups: circuit training (CT), brisk walk (BW), and control (C) groups. The interventions lasted 12 weeks with a weekly frequency of three 30-minute sessions in the middle of the workday. All employees were evaluated with a multicomponent battery test which included: anthropometric and body composition measurements, a cardiorespiratory fitness test, lipid profile, blood pressure, and mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress). Basic descriptive statistics were calculated. A repeated measures ANOVA was performed to summarize changes in the variables studied after the application of the physical exercise programs. Generally, both exercise programs (CT and BW) maintained the body weight and body mass index while reducing body fat mass (a group × time interaction; 4.864 ≤ F ≤ 6.524, 0.001 ≤ p ≤ 0.015), although the CT intervention also showed relevant (inter-group) reductions in the waist-hip ratio (F = 11.311, p = 0.007) and increased skeletal muscle mass (F = 15.062, p = 0.003). Both exercise programs (CT and BW) improved the cardiorespiratory fitness test scores (a group × time interaction; F = 18.054, p < 0.001). There were no changes in the lipid profile or blood pressure after the interventions, but there was an improvement in mental health (4.760 ≤ F ≤ 8.087, 0.008 ≤ p ≤ 0.037). The findings suggest that both types of programs could be implemented in the employees' daily routine in order to improve their overall health. Nevertheless, studies with larger samples are necessary before the conclusions can be generalized. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(1):39-51.