Research

17 pages, 1052 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Exploratory Study on the Physical Activity Health Paradox—Musculoskeletal Pain and Cardiovascular Load during Work and Leisure in Construction and Healthcare Workers

by Suzanne Lerato Merkus, Pieter Coenen, Mikael Forsman, Stein Knardahl, Kaj Bo Veiersted and Svend Erik Mathiassen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 2751; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19052751 - 26 Feb 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3014

Abstract

Using a novel approach, this exploratory study investigated whether the physical activity (PA) paradox extends to cardiovascular load and musculoskeletal pain. At baseline, 1–2 days of 24 h heart rate was assessed in 72 workers from construction and healthcare. Workers then reported pain [...] Read more.

Using a novel approach, this exploratory study investigated whether the physical activity (PA) paradox extends to cardiovascular load and musculoskeletal pain. At baseline, 1–2 days of 24 h heart rate was assessed in 72 workers from construction and healthcare. Workers then reported pain intensity in 9 body regions (scale 0–3) every 6 months for two years. The 2 year average of musculoskeletal pain (sum of 9 pain scores; scale 0–27) was regressed on time spent during work and leisure above three thresholds of percentage heart rate reserve (%HRR), i.e., ≥20 %HRR, ≥30 %HRR, and ≥40 %HRR, using a novel ilr structure in compositional data analysis. Analyses were stratified for several important variables. Workers spending more time in physical activity at work had higher pain, while workers with more time in physical activity during leisure had less pain (i.e., the PA paradox), but none of the associations were statistically significant. Higher aerobic capacity and lower body mass index lowered the pain score among those with higher physical activity at work. This exploratory study suggests that the PA paradox may apply to musculoskeletal pain and future studies with larger sample sizes and additional exposure analyses are needed to explain why this occurs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Occupational Health in a 24/7 Perspective)

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14 pages, 744 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Childcare Work Promote Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Health? A Cross-Sectional Study of Danish Childcare Workers Based on Accelerometry and Heart Rate Measurements

by Kathrine Greby Schmidt, Rasmus Kildedal, Anders Fritz Lerche, Maja Vilhelmsen, Charlotte Lund Rasmussen, Svend Erik Mathiassen, Leon Straker and Andreas Holtermann

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12496; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182312496 - 27 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1586

Abstract

Childcare workers are reported to have poor cardiorespiratory fitness and health. The Goldilocks Work Principle argues that productive work should be designed with the right composition, intensity and alternations of physical behaviors so that workers get fit and healthy. The purpose of this [...] Read more.

Childcare workers are reported to have poor cardiorespiratory fitness and health. The Goldilocks Work Principle argues that productive work should be designed with the right composition, intensity and alternations of physical behaviors so that workers get fit and healthy. The purpose of this study was to investigate: (1) composition, (2) intensity and (3) alternations of physical behaviors during work and leisure among childcare workers. Data were collected using accelerometers and heart rate monitors over five workdays among 51 childcare workers at five Danish childcare institutions. Workers mainly spent their work time sedentary (43.0%), spent little time (0.7%) at sufficiently high cardiometabolic intensity to increase cardiorespiratory fitness and often alternated between physical behaviors (67.0% occurred in bouts of <5 min). These findings indicate that the workers have a composition of behaviors at work dominated by sedentary time, little time with high cardiometabolic intensity, and frequent alternations between behaviors. During leisure, workers spent more time sedentary (59.4%), more time at high cardiometabolic intensity (3.4%) and less time occurred in bouts <5 min (38.7%). We see a potential for promoting cardiorespiratory fitness and health of childcare workers by redesigning the way they play with the children, so that work time with high cardiometabolic intensity is increased. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Occupational Health in a 24/7 Perspective)

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16 pages, 1017 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Psychophysiological Reactivity, Postures and Movements among Academic Staff: A Comparison between Teleworking Days and Office Days

by Linda Widar, Birgitta Wiitavaara, Eva Boman and Marina Heiden

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(18), 9537; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18189537 - 10 Sep 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3296

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if psychophysiological activity, postures and movements differ during telework (i.e., work performed at home) and work performed at the conventional office. We performed twenty-four-hour pulse recordings and accelerometry measurements on 23 academic teaching and research [...] Read more.

The aim of this study was to determine if psychophysiological activity, postures and movements differ during telework (i.e., work performed at home) and work performed at the conventional office. We performed twenty-four-hour pulse recordings and accelerometry measurements on 23 academic teaching and research staff during five consecutive workdays, with at least one day of telework. Additionally, we conducted salivary sampling during one day of telework, and one day of office work. Heart rate and heart rate variability indices, postural exposure and cortisol concentration were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance with Workplace and Time (i.e., before, during and after workhours) as within-subject effects. We found a significant interaction effect of Workplace and Time in heart rate variability indices and in the number of transitions between seated and standing postures. This shows more parasympathetic activity among academic teleworkers during telework than office work, which may indicate more relaxation during telework. They had an overall sedentary behavior at both workplaces but switched between sitting and standing more often during telework, which may be beneficial for their health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Occupational Health in a 24/7 Perspective)

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11 pages, 768 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physical Behaviours in Brazilian Office Workers Working from Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Compared to before the Pandemic: A Compositional Data Analysis

by Luiz Augusto Brusaca, Dechristian França Barbieri, Svend Erik Mathiassen, Andreas Holtermann and Ana Beatriz Oliveira

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(12), 6278; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18126278 - 10 Jun 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3866

Abstract

Work from home has increased greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and concerns have been raised that this would change physical behaviours. In the present study, 11 Brazilian office workers (five women, six men; mean [SD] age 39.3 [9.6] years) wore two triaxial accelerometers [...] Read more.

Work from home has increased greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and concerns have been raised that this would change physical behaviours. In the present study, 11 Brazilian office workers (five women, six men; mean [SD] age 39.3 [9.6] years) wore two triaxial accelerometers fixed on the upper back and right thigh continuously for five days, including a weekend, before COVID-19 (September 2019), and again while working at home during COVID-19 (July 2020). We determined time used in five behaviours: sedentary, standing, light physical activity (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous activity (MVPA), and time-in-bed. Data on these behaviours were processed using Compositional Data Analysis, and behaviours observed pre-COVID19 and during-COVID19 were compared using repeated-measures MANOVA. On workdays during-COVID19, participants spent 667 min sedentary, 176 standing, 74 LPA, 51 MVPA and 472 time-in-bed; corresponding numbers pre-COVID were 689, 180, 81, 72 and 418 min. Tests confirmed that less time was spent in bed pre-COVID19 (log-ratio −0.12 [95% CI −0.19; −0.08]) and more time in MVPA (log-ratio 0.35, [95% CI 0.08; 0.70]). Behaviours during the weekend changed only marginally. While small, this study is the first to report objectively measured physical behaviours during workdays as well as weekends in the same subjects before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Occupational Health in a 24/7 Perspective)

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20 pages, 2904 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Two Randomized and Controlled Multi-Component Interventions Focusing On 24-Hour Movement Behavior among Office Workers: A Compositional Data Analysis

by Lisa-Marie Larisch, Emil Bojsen-Møller, Carla F. J. Nooijen, Victoria Blom, Maria Ekblom, Örjan Ekblom, Daniel Arvidsson, Jonatan Fridolfsson, David M. Hallman, Svend Erik Mathiassen, Rui Wang and Lena V. Kallings

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(8), 4191; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18084191 - 15 Apr 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4079

Abstract

Intervention studies aiming at changing movement behavior have usually not accounted for the compositional nature of time-use data. Compositional data analysis (CoDA) has been suggested as a useful strategy for analyzing such data. The aim of this study was to examine the effects [...] Read more.

Intervention studies aiming at changing movement behavior have usually not accounted for the compositional nature of time-use data. Compositional data analysis (CoDA) has been suggested as a useful strategy for analyzing such data. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of two multi-component interventions on 24-h movement behavior (using CoDA) and on cardiorespiratory fitness among office workers; one focusing on reducing sedentariness and the other on increasing physical activity. Office workers (n = 263) were cluster randomized into one of two 6-month intervention groups, or a control group. Time spent in sedentary behavior, light-intensity, moderate and vigorous physical activity, and time in bed were assessed using accelerometers and diaries, both for 24 h in total, and for work and leisure time separately. Cardiorespiratory fitness was estimated using a sub-maximal cycle ergometer test. Intervention effects were analyzed using linear mixed models. No intervention effects were found, either for 24-h behaviors in total, or for work and leisure time behaviors separately. Cardiorespiratory fitness did not change significantly. Despite a thorough analysis of 24-h behaviors using CoDA, no intervention effects were found, neither for behaviors in total, nor for work and leisure time behaviors separately. Cardiorespiratory fitness did not change significantly. Although the design of the multi-component interventions was based on theoretical frameworks, and included cognitive behavioral therapy counselling, which has been proven effective in other populations, issues related to implementation of and compliance with some intervention components may have led to the observed lack of intervention effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Occupational Health in a 24/7 Perspective)

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11 pages, 932 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Work-Time Compositions of Physical Behaviors and Trajectories of Sick Leave Due to Musculoskeletal Pain

by David M. Hallman, Nidhi Gupta, Leticia Bergamin Januario and Andreas Holtermann

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1508; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18041508 - 05 Feb 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2330

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the association between work-time compositions of physical behavior and sick leave trajectories due to musculoskeletal pain over one year. We conducted a secondary analysis using the data of 981 workers in a Danish prospective cohort (DPHACTO 2012–2014). At baseline, [...] Read more.

We aimed to investigate the association between work-time compositions of physical behavior and sick leave trajectories due to musculoskeletal pain over one year. We conducted a secondary analysis using the data of 981 workers in a Danish prospective cohort (DPHACTO 2012–2014). At baseline, we assessed physical behaviors (sitting, standing, light physical activity (LIPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)) at work and during leisure, using accelerometers. Over 1 year follow-up, workers reported sick-leave days due to musculoskeletal pain at 4-week intervals. Four distinct trajectories of sick leave were previously identified in this cohort (“no sick leave”, “few days—increasing trajectory”, “some days—decreasing trajectory”, “some days—increasing trajectory”), and used as an outcome in multinomial regression models with work-time compositions as predictors, adjusted for compositions of behavior during leisure, age, sex, body mass index, and smoking habits. More time spent sitting relative to the other behaviors was negatively associated with the trajectory of few days—increasing sick leave (p = 0.004), while time in LIPA was positively associated with the trajectory of some days—increasing sick leave (p = 0.009). Standing and MVPA were not significantly associated with sick leave trajectories. In conclusion, work-time compositions with more sitting relative to the other behaviors had lower risk for an increasing trajectory of sick leave due to pain, while compositions with more LIPA had higher risk. This may have implications for prevention of pain-related sick leave in blue-collar workers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Occupational Health in a 24/7 Perspective)

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17 pages, 673 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relation between Domain-Specific Physical Behaviour and Cardiorespiratory Fitness: A Cross-Sectional Compositional Data Analysis on the Physical Activity Health Paradox Using Accelerometer-Assessed Data

by Margo Ketels, Charlotte Lund Rasmussen, Mette Korshøj, Nidhi Gupta, Dirk De Bacquer, Andreas Holtermann and Els Clays

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(21), 7929; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17217929 - 29 Oct 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2815

Abstract

In contrast to leisure time physical activity (LTPA), occupational physical activity (OPA) does not have similar beneficial health effects. These differential health effects might be explained by dissimilar effects of LTPA and OPA on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). This study investigated cross-sectional associations between [...] Read more.

In contrast to leisure time physical activity (LTPA), occupational physical activity (OPA) does not have similar beneficial health effects. These differential health effects might be explained by dissimilar effects of LTPA and OPA on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). This study investigated cross-sectional associations between different physical behaviours during both work and leisure time and CRF by using a Compositional Data Analysis approach. Physical behaviours were assessed by two accelerometers among 309 workers with various manual jobs. During work time, more sedentary behaviour (SB) was associated with higher CRF when compared relatively to time spent on other work behaviours, while more SB during leisure time was associated with lower CRF when compared to other leisure time behaviours. Reallocating more time to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) from the other behaviours within leisure time was positively associated with CRF, which was not the case for MVPA during work. The results of our study are in line with the physical activity health paradox and we call for further study on the interaction between LTPA and OPA by implementing device-worn measures in a longitudinal design. Our results highlight the need for recommendations to take into account the different effects of OPA and LTPA on CRF. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Occupational Health in a 24/7 Perspective)

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12 pages, 610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Natural Patterns of Sitting, Standing and Stepping During and Outside Work—Differences between Habitual Users and Non-Users of Sit–Stand Workstations

by Lidewij R. Renaud, Maaike A. Huysmans, Hidde P. van der Ploeg, Erwin M. Speklé and Allard J. van der Beek

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(11), 4075; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17114075 - 08 Jun 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2408

Abstract

Sit–stand workstations have shown to reduce sitting time in office workers on a group level. However, movement behaviour patterns might differ between subgroups of workers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine sitting, standing and stepping outcomes between habitual users and [...] Read more.

Sit–stand workstations have shown to reduce sitting time in office workers on a group level. However, movement behaviour patterns might differ between subgroups of workers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine sitting, standing and stepping outcomes between habitual users and non-users of sit–stand workstations. From an international office population based in the Netherlands, 24 users and 25 non-users of sit–stand workstations were included (all had long-term access to these workstations). Using the ActivPAL, sitting, standing and stepping were objectively measured during and outside working hours. Differences in outcomes between users and non-users were analysed using linear regression. During working hours, users sat less (−1.64; 95% IC= −2.27–−1.01 h/8 h workday) and stood more (1.51; 95% IC= 0.92–2.10 h/8 h workday) than non-users. Attenuated but similar differences were also found for total sitting time over the whole week. Furthermore, time in static standing bouts was relatively high for users during working hours (median= 0.56; IQR = 0.19−1.08 h/8 h workday). During non-working hours on workdays and during non-working days, no differences were found between users and non-users. During working hours, habitual users of their sit–stand workstation sat substantially less and stood proportionally more than non-users. No differences were observed outside working hours, leading to attenuated but similar differences in total sitting and standing time between users and non-users for total days. This indicated that the users of sit–stand workstations reduced their sitting time at work, but this seemed not to be accompanied by major carry-over or compensatory effects outside working hours. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Occupational Health in a 24/7 Perspective)

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