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Work-related physical activity among cardiovascular specialists
Thura T Abd1, Andrew Kobylivker, Adam Perry
1Department of Internal Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. tabd@emory.edu
Clinical Cardiology
|January 25, 2012
Summary
Cardiovascular specialists do not meet recommended daily physical activity goals during work. They must incorporate extra exercise outside of work hours to achieve 10,000 steps per day for optimal health benefits.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Preventive Medicine
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Physical activity is strongly linked to health benefits, with recommendations of 30 minutes daily or 10,000 steps.
- Current guidelines aim to promote cardiovascular health through regular exercise.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess if the work-related physical activity of cardiovascular specialists meets recommended daily guidelines.
- To identify potential challenges in achieving recommended activity levels within their professional roles.
Main Methods:
- 28 cardiovascular specialists (cardiologists, CT surgeons, anesthesiologists) participated.
- Participants wore pedometers for two weeks to track daily steps and work hours.
- Demographic and health data were collected.
Main Results:
- Average daily steps during work ranged from 5553 to 6540 across specialties, falling short of the 10,000-step goal.
- No significant differences in steps were found among the different cardiovascular specialist groups.
- Cardiothoracic surgeons worked longer hours (12.4) than cardiac anesthesiologists (9.3).
Conclusions:
- Cardiovascular specialists' on-the-job physical activity does not meet recommended health guidelines.
- Busy work schedules pose a significant barrier to achieving sufficient daily exercise.
- Additional out-of-hours physical activity is necessary for these professionals to meet health recommendations.
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