Intelligent physical exercise training intervention at the workplace for health promotion among office workers: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Health promotion at the workplace can be effective by introducing physical exercise training for preventing lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular, metabolic, and musculoskeletal disorders. The present aim was to assess the effects of individually tailored intelligent physical exercise programs for office workers on cardiovascular health risk indicators. Methods: The study was a randomized controlled trial among office workers allocated to either a training (N=194) or a control group (N=195). The intervention lasted one year, and the training group trained onehour high intensity dynamic exercise everyweek during working hours and were recommended 30min of moderate intensity physical activity 6 days a week during leisure time. Before and after the intervention participants completed a health check including a standardized submaximal bicycle test with heart rate monitoring for indirect estimate of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), body mass, BMI, blood pressure (BP), and blood profile. Data from the first health check were used to individually tailor the intelligent physical exercise training. Trial registration was in ClinicalTrials.gov, number: NCT01366950. Results: At baseline, the training group had a (mean± SD) VO2max of 3.3±0.9 l/min and a fitness level (VO2max per body mass) of 36±11 (ml/min/kg), systolic/diastolic BP 124±17/82±11mmHg, blood glucose 5.3±1mmol/l, and blood cholesterol 5.1±0.9mmol/l. An intention-to-treat analysis showed a significant 5% increase in VO2max and fitness level in the training group compared with the control group. Furthermore, within the training group a significant decrease occurred in systolic/diastolic BP of 3.4/2.8mmHg, and blood glucose of 0.2mmol/l. No intervention effect was found on BMI, blood cholesterol, and triglycerides. In a per protocol analysis among employees in the training group with an adherence ≥70% (N=102) compared to the control group showed a significant 10% increase in VO2max and fitness level. Further, within the high adherence group a decrease in systolic/diastolic BP of 4.4/3.3mmHg, and blood cholesterol of 0.2mmol/l was seen. Discussion:High intensity intelligent physical exercise training combined with recommendations of moderate intensity physical activity significantly increased VO2max and fitness level. The magnitude of increase implied a decrease in cardiovascular health risk based on findings in larger epidemiological studies. Of note is that this increase was larger among those with the highest adherence. Within the training group deceases in systolic BP and blood glucose/cholesterol additionally indicateddecreasedhealth risks. In all this study was effective in decreasing health risk indicators among office workers.