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Implementing intelligent physical exercise training at the workplace: health effects among office workers—a randomized controlled trial

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim was to assess 1-year cardiovascular health effects of Intelligent Physical Exercise Training, IPET.

Methods

Office workers from six companies were randomized 1:1 to a training group, TG (N = 194) or a control group, CG (N = 195). TG received 1-h supervised high intensity IPET every week within working hours for 1 year, and was recommended to perform 30-min of moderate intensity physical activity 6 days a week during leisure. The training program was based on baseline health check measures of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), body composition, blood pressure, blood profile, and musculoskeletal health.

Results

There were no baseline differences between groups. CRF assessed as VO2max in absolute values and relative to body weight was (mean ± SD): 3.0 ± 0.8 l/min and 35.4 ± 10.9 ml/min/kg for females, 3.9 ± 1.0 l/min and 37.9 ± 11.79 ml/min/kg for males. Intention to treat analysis demonstrated a significant almost 5 % increase in VO2max in TG compared with CG. A per protocol analysis of those with an adherence of ≥70 % demonstrated a significant increase in CRF of more than 10 % compared with CG, and a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (−5.3 ± 13.7 mm Hg) compared with CG.

Conclusion

High intensity IPET combined with the recommendations of moderate intensity physical activity demonstrated significant clinical relevant improvements in CRF and systolic blood pressure. This underlines the effectiveness of health promotion by implementing physical exercise training at the workplace.

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Abbreviations

ANCOVA:

Analysis of covariance

CG:

Control group

CRF:

Cardiorespiratory fitness

IPET:

Intelligent physical exercise training

HDL:

High density lipoprotein

HR:

Heart rate

LDL:

Low density lipoprotein

RPE:

Rate of perceived exertion

1RM:

One repetition maximum

TG:

Training group

TG ≥ 70 %:

Participants in the training group with an adherence of minimum 70 %

VO2max :

Maximal oxygen uptake

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Acknowledgments

Financial support was received from the companies: Implement Consulting Group, PreviaSundhed and the Simon Fougner Hartmanns Familiy Foundation, Denmark. The authors would like to thank biomedical laboratory technicians Kirsten Kjaer and Dorte Mengers Flindt for their support with tests and measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense, Denmark

    Tina Dalager, Just Bendix Justesen, Mike Murray, Eleanor Boyle & Gisela Sjøgaard

  2. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Eleanor Boyle

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  1. Tina Dalager
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  2. Just Bendix Justesen
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  3. Mike Murray
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  4. Eleanor Boyle
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  5. Gisela Sjøgaard
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Correspondence to Tina Dalager.

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The authors declare no conflict of interests

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Communicated by Guido Ferretti.

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Dalager, T., Justesen, J.B., Murray, M. et al. Implementing intelligent physical exercise training at the workplace: health effects among office workers—a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 1433–1442 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3397-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3397-8

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