Abstract details
| Abstract-ID: | 1346 |
| Title of the paper: | A 12-week Active Breaks program to improve physical activity levels and physical fitness in the adult academic employees: a pilot study. |
| Authors: | Maisto, G., Tuccella, C., Zito, P., Nespoli, L., Di Pietro, C., Pugliese, L., Vinciguerra M.G., Bonavolonta', V. |
| Institution: | University of L'Aquila |
| Department: | Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences |
| Country: | Italy |
| Abstract text | INTRODUCTION: University employees spend most of the day on the workplace and exhibit sedentary behaviours, which is linked to health issues. Active breaks (ABs) are short interruptions in the academic setting where physical activity (PA) is performed. Although, ABs have gained prominence in the scientific literature, especially among university students, they are not widely explored across the adult employee’s population, leaving gaps in the understanding of their effectiveness. The aim of this pilot study was to assess if a 12-week ABs program could increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and daily steps (DS), decrease resting heart rate (RHR) and improve physical fitness (PF), therefore positively influencing the lifestyle of physically inactive employees of an academic community. METHODS: Eleven physically inactive employees (10 women; mean age: 57 ± 9.38 years) engaged in a 10-min combined strength, aerobic and mobility AB twice a day, four days a week, plus a 60-min mobility session on a separate day, over a 12-week period. PA levels (MVPA and DS) and RHR were assessed through a 7-day monitoring period with a wrist worn device. Weekly MET-min was evaluated through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire – Short Form. Upper and lower limb strength, handgrip and core strength, upper and lower body mobility, balance and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) were measured through standardized and validated fitness tests at baseline (T0) and at the end (T1) of the intervention. RESULTS: Mixed-model results highlighted significant improvements from pre- to post-intervention in the handgrip strength (p = 0.04; n²p = 0.36), lower body strength (p = 0.004; n²p = 0.57), upper body strength (p = 0.03; n²p = 0.37) and CRF (p = 0.02; n²p = 0.42), indicating meaningful adaptations. Lower-body mobility showed a trend toward improvement (p = 0.060; n²p = 0.30). Wearable-derived lifestyle variables, including DS, MVPA, and RHR, did not show significant changes. However, large effect sizes were detected for balance, upper-body mobility, DS and RHR (all n²p = 0.14). Paired-samples t-tests fully confirmed the mixed-model findings. CONCLUSION: Despite limited effects on lifestyle-related PA, this pilot study indicates that a workplace Active Breaks program may enhance PF in inactive academic employees. The findings support the feasibility of this approach and highlight the need for larger, controlled studies to evaluate its long-term impact on health and in promoting long-term lifestyle modifications in academic employees. |
| Topic: | Health and Fitness |
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