Acceptability and Impact of Office-Based Resistance Exercise Breaks

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Exercise Science
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Sedentary behavior is linked to discomfort, fatigue, and sleepiness.
• The impact and acceptability of resistance exercise breaks are less understood compared to standing or walking breaks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the acceptability of resistance exercise breaks.
• To assess the influence of resistance exercise breaks on discomfort, physical and mental fatigue, and sleepiness during occupational sitting.

Main Methods:

• Participants completed two 4-hour conditions: prolonged sitting (SIT) and sitting with hourly resistance exercise breaks (REX).
• Outcomes were measured hourly, with acceptability assessed via questionnaire.
• Linear mixed models and Cohen's d were used for statistical analysis.

Main Results:

• While overall outcomes were not significantly different between conditions, a significant reduction in mental fatigue was observed at hour 4 in the REX condition.
• Majority of participants (>50%) reported high acceptability (ratings of 4 or 5) for the resistance exercise breaks.
• Fourteen adults (age: 53.4 ± 9.5 years, BMI: 30.9 ± 4.8 kg/m²).

Conclusions:

• Resistance exercise breaks are highly acceptable for implementation.
• Preliminary evidence suggests resistance exercise breaks may improve mental fatigue during prolonged sitting.
• Further research is warranted to understand the role of resistance training in mitigating risks associated with sedentary behavior.