Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Habituation to Elevated Glucose Levels in Type 1 Diabetes: Function and Well-Being in Guideline-Based Versus Typical Glycemic Range.

Diabetes care·2026
Same author

Intersectional inequalities in somatic symptom severity: A trans-diagnostic MAIHDA analysis of SOMACROSS data.

Journal of psychosomatic research·2026
Same author

Strain and recovery activities over a week predict short-term changes in processing speed measured in everyday environments: A survey response-time study in workers from a large internet panel.

Neuropsychology·2026
Same author

Emerging role of stem cells and tissue engineering in oculoplastic surgery.

Indian journal of ophthalmology·2026
Same author

Does today's workload predict tomorrow's stress, fatigue, and other strain states? Exploring directionality in daily dynamics.

Ergonomics·2026
Same author

Behind closed doors: a cross-sectional survey on the health and working conditions of migrant live-in care workers in Germany.

European journal of public health·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 27, 2026

A Cross-Disciplinary and Multi-Modal Experimental Design for Studying Near-Real-Time Authentic Examination Experiences
08:33

A Cross-Disciplinary and Multi-Modal Experimental Design for Studying Near-Real-Time Authentic Examination Experiences

Published on: September 4, 2019

7.6K

Functional work breaks in a high-demanding work environment: an experimental field study.

André Scholz1, Argang Ghadiri1, Usha Singh1

  • 1a Department of Management Science , Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences , Sankt Augustin , Germany.

Ergonomics
|July 7, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Different work break activities were studied in a stressful environment. While boxing improved cortical relaxation, it did not enhance employee mood or cognitive performance, suggesting no universal break type benefits all workers.

Keywords:
Cognitive performanceexerciserecoveryrelaxationwork breaks

More Related Videos

Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice
09:37

Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice

Published on: August 13, 2020

12.2K
Tactile Vibrating Toolkit and Driving Simulation Platform for Driving-Related Research
07:15

Tactile Vibrating Toolkit and Driving Simulation Platform for Driving-Related Research

Published on: December 18, 2020

5.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 27, 2026

A Cross-Disciplinary and Multi-Modal Experimental Design for Studying Near-Real-Time Authentic Examination Experiences
08:33

A Cross-Disciplinary and Multi-Modal Experimental Design for Studying Near-Real-Time Authentic Examination Experiences

Published on: September 4, 2019

7.6K
Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice
09:37

Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice

Published on: August 13, 2020

12.2K
Tactile Vibrating Toolkit and Driving Simulation Platform for Driving-Related Research
07:15

Tactile Vibrating Toolkit and Driving Simulation Platform for Driving-Related Research

Published on: December 18, 2020

5.1K

Area of Science:

  • Occupational Health
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Work breaks are recognized for their positive impact on employee well-being, performance, and safety.
  • The specific activities undertaken during breaks are often overlooked in research.
  • Stressful and cognitively demanding work environments necessitate effective break strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of different work break types (boxing, deep relaxation, usual breaks) on employee mood, cognitive performance, and neurophysiological state.
  • To compare these effects against a no-break control condition.
  • To determine if a universal work break type benefits all individuals in a demanding workplace.

Main Methods:

  • An experimental field study with twelve employees in a stressful, cognitively demanding environment.
  • A repeated measures design comparing boxing, deep relaxation, usual breaks, and no break conditions.
  • Assessment of cognitive performance using auditory oddball and Movement Detection Tests.
  • Measurement of brain cortical activity via electroencephalography (EEG).
  • Analysis of individual mood using the Profile of Mood States (POMS).

Main Results:

  • Neurophysiological data indicated improved cortical relaxation following boxing breaks compared to 'no break' and 'deep relaxation' conditions.
  • No significant improvements in cognitive performance or mood were observed across the different break types.
  • The study did not identify a specific work break activity that universally enhanced outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • While boxing may induce cortical relaxation, its benefits do not extend to improved mood or cognitive performance in this context.
  • The effectiveness of work break activities may be individualized, challenging the notion of a one-size-fits-all approach.
  • Further research is needed to explore personalized work break strategies in demanding occupational settings.