Leppe M1, Leppe J1, Jasmén A1
1Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
Background: The evidence shows that the working population in their workplaces has high levels of sedentary behavior, and the physical activity (PA) when commuting or during free time is insufficient to obtain health benefits. It is necessary to encourage PA in the workplace, but before recommending its implementation to different employers we want to know what are the benefits described by the interventions related to workplace physical activity (WPA).
Purpose: To explore which are the benefits of WPA interventions described in the scientific and grey literature. Knowing the benefits of WPA, will be useful in the context of occupational health, to prevent musculoskeletal disorders and non-communicable diseases associated with physical inactivity.
Methods: A search strategy was created based on methodology proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The databases MEDLINE / Pubmed, CINAHL Plus with Full Text (Ebsco), Scielo Citation Index (Clarivate), Web of Science-Main Collection (Clarivate) and Cochrane Library (access Ministry of Health of Chile) were used for the search and identification of all potentially relevant types of studies published from the year 2000 to May 2018. Studies published in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish were included. The variables were grouped into characteristics of the study population, domain of the PA dimension, type of intervention used, primary and secondary outcomes of the study and results based on the hypothesis.
Results: 309 of the 2290 potentially relevant articles were selected for further analysis. 33% corresponds to randomized clinical trials. The female population corresponds to 64%. 62% declare the type of work (blue collar 21%, white collar 23% and mixed 18%). 42% focus on health promotion, followed by the incentive of the PA (20%), the specific performance of exercises (16%) and management of sedentary behavior (11%). Endurance is used as an exposure or intervention variable in isolation in 34% of the studies. 26% specify frequency, intensity, time and type of AP. 40% of the programs have a duration of 0-12 weeks.
Conclusion(s): The main results are focused on increasing PA capacity, improving strength and endurance (33%).10% of the studies are aimed at the management of musculoskeletal pain or the control of cardiovascular risk factors. The most used elements for the measurement of the results are the questionnaires, the measurement of the physical condition and devices of measurement of movement (accelerometers) and anthropometric measurements. 80% declare to verify their hypothesis of study either in the identification of insufficient PA as a risk factor in the worker´s health or in the benefits obtained when implementing a WPA program
Implications: Given that the WPA interventions can be extensive and their form of evaluation and measurement diverse, it is suggested that a WPA program contain: Glossary, brief characterization of the problem, benefits of PA, evaluation by professional to indicate the best intervention in accordance with the characteristics of the work, step by step model, supervision. The next step is to create a physical activity guide to help businesses, employers and others. The role of the physical therapist with knowledge in occupational health is relevant in this type of intervention.
Keywords: Physical activity, workplace, occuational health
Funding acknowledgements: Not funding or grants involved.
Purpose: To explore which are the benefits of WPA interventions described in the scientific and grey literature. Knowing the benefits of WPA, will be useful in the context of occupational health, to prevent musculoskeletal disorders and non-communicable diseases associated with physical inactivity.
Methods: A search strategy was created based on methodology proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The databases MEDLINE / Pubmed, CINAHL Plus with Full Text (Ebsco), Scielo Citation Index (Clarivate), Web of Science-Main Collection (Clarivate) and Cochrane Library (access Ministry of Health of Chile) were used for the search and identification of all potentially relevant types of studies published from the year 2000 to May 2018. Studies published in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish were included. The variables were grouped into characteristics of the study population, domain of the PA dimension, type of intervention used, primary and secondary outcomes of the study and results based on the hypothesis.
Results: 309 of the 2290 potentially relevant articles were selected for further analysis. 33% corresponds to randomized clinical trials. The female population corresponds to 64%. 62% declare the type of work (blue collar 21%, white collar 23% and mixed 18%). 42% focus on health promotion, followed by the incentive of the PA (20%), the specific performance of exercises (16%) and management of sedentary behavior (11%). Endurance is used as an exposure or intervention variable in isolation in 34% of the studies. 26% specify frequency, intensity, time and type of AP. 40% of the programs have a duration of 0-12 weeks.
Conclusion(s): The main results are focused on increasing PA capacity, improving strength and endurance (33%).10% of the studies are aimed at the management of musculoskeletal pain or the control of cardiovascular risk factors. The most used elements for the measurement of the results are the questionnaires, the measurement of the physical condition and devices of measurement of movement (accelerometers) and anthropometric measurements. 80% declare to verify their hypothesis of study either in the identification of insufficient PA as a risk factor in the worker´s health or in the benefits obtained when implementing a WPA program
Implications: Given that the WPA interventions can be extensive and their form of evaluation and measurement diverse, it is suggested that a WPA program contain: Glossary, brief characterization of the problem, benefits of PA, evaluation by professional to indicate the best intervention in accordance with the characteristics of the work, step by step model, supervision. The next step is to create a physical activity guide to help businesses, employers and others. The role of the physical therapist with knowledge in occupational health is relevant in this type of intervention.
Keywords: Physical activity, workplace, occuational health
Funding acknowledgements: Not funding or grants involved.
Topic: Occupational health & ergonomics; Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing; Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: Universidad del Desarrollo
Ethics committee: Dont apply
Reason not required: This is an investigation carried out with existing data and without interaction with human beings (literature review)
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
