ECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH27
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.
Read CV Gabriele MaistoECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH27
INTRODUCTION: Psychological distress is increasingly prevalent among university students worldwide. Although physical activity has been widely studied, less attention has been given to objectively measured physical fitness components-particularly muscular fitness. This study examined associations between multiple physical fitness indicators and psychological distress in Chinese male university students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 3,102 male university students (mean age 19.14 ± 1.19 years) from Tsinghua University. Psychological distress was assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), with 26.9% classified as distressed. Physical fitness was evaluated using standardized national testing protocols administered via the Tsinghua Tongfang S5000 Physical Fitness Testing System. Indicators included vital capacity (cardiorespiratory fitness), standing long jump (lower-body muscular power), and pull-ups (upper-body muscular endurance). Binary logistic regression models were applied to examine associations between fitness components and psychological distress, adjusting for age and academic grade. RESULTS: The overall mean vital capacity was 4263 ± 685 mL, standing long jump distance was 223.7 ± 22.9 cm, and pull-up performance was 7.61 ± 7.21 repetitions. Students classified as psychologically distressed demonstrated consistently poorer performance across all fitness components compared with non-distressed peers. In adjusted binary logistic regression models, lower pull-up performance showed the strongest association with psychological distress (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.10-1.24, p < 0.001). Standing long jump performance was similarly associated with increased distress risk (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.08-1.22, p < 0.001), as was reduced vital capacity (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.09-1.23, p < 0.001). A clear graded relationship was observed, with progressively higher odds of psychological distress across declining fitness levels, supporting a dose–response pattern independent of confounding factors. CONCLUSION: Muscular endurance, muscular power, and cardiorespiratory fitness were independently and dose-dependently associated with psychological distress in male university students. Notably, muscular fitness demonstrated the strongest association, highlighting its potential importance in mental health beyond traditional weight-based indicators. These findings suggest that interventions targeting improvements in muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness may contribute to psychological health promotion in young adult males.
Read CV yu hongjunECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH27
INTRODUCTION: Menopause is a key stage in women’s life, marked by physiological and psychological alterations, both increasing cardiovascular (CV) risk. This period is also frequently associated with a decline in physical activity levels (PAL), leading to deconditioning and thereby to reduced exercise tolerance (ET), contributing to an increased CV risk. Thus, an adapted physical activity (APA) training may help to improve ET and reduce CV risk. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an aerobic moderate-intensity APA training on ET, CV parameters and quality of life (QOL) in sedentary postmenopausal women with reduced ET. METHODS: A randomised controlled trial was conducted among postmenopausal women aged <70 years, physically inactive, presenting exertional dyspnoea. The training group completed 24 supervised 60-minute sessions of aerobic moderate-intensity APA over 8-12 weeks, while the control group maintained their lifestyle. Exercise tolerance was assessed using an incremental maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test on a cycle ergometer, measuring V̇O₂ and power output at peak and at the first ventilatory threshold (VT1), and exertional dyspnoea evaluated every minute by the modified Borg scale. Assessed CV parameters included central systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), rest heart rate (HR), subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, endothelial function (flow-mediated dilatation) and blood pressure profile (24-hour, day-and nighttime SBP, DBP). Quality of life was accessed using the Menopause QOL questionnaire (MENQOL) and the SF-36 questionnaire. Data were analysed using repeated-measures ANOVA and cumulative link mixed model with Bonferroni post hoc tests. RESULTS: 43 women (59 ± 6 years) were randomised, 37 completed the study (19 in the training group). In the training group, V̇O₂ increased post-training compared to pre-training (peak: +2.45 ± 0.48 mL/min/kg, p<0.001; VT1: +2.87 ± 0.55 mL/min/kg, p<0.001), accompanied by increased power output (peak: +14.80 ± 2.25 W, p<0.001; VT1: +17.11 ± 3.34 W, p<0.001). In the control group, power output at peak was increased compared to baseline (+6.50 ± 2.31 W, p=0.048), but not the other parameters. Modified-Borg dyspnoea scores were reduced by APA training (p<0.0001). Concerning CV parameters, training increased SEVR (+12.0 ± 3.43 %, p=0.008), decreased rest HR (-5.7 ± 1.1 bpm, p<0.001), and reduced daytime DBP (-2.56 ± 0.91 mmHg, p=0.048) compared to baseline. An improvement was observed in MENQOL physical subscale (-0.88 ± 0.23, p=0.003) and the SF-36 physical functioning score (+8.61 ± 2.72, p=0.019) in the training group compared to baseline. No differences on CV markers or QOL was noted in the control group. CONCLUSION: Aerobic moderate-intensity APA training is a promising strategy for improving ET and CV risk markers in inactive postmenopausal women, while enhancing perceived physical functioning, and potentially sustaining recommended PAL.
Read CV Morgane Le BourvellecECSS Paris 2023: OP-MH27