Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2025

Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
Published on: October 17, 2018
Active Waiting: Facilitating Short Bouts of Exercise During Idle Times for Promoting Physical Activity in Daily
Daniela Wurhofer1, Magdelena Maislinger1, Eva-Maria Krah1
1Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Digital Health and Prevention, Salzburg, Austria.
Background:
This work explores the interaction design around the approach of making use of otherwise idle waiting times to perform short bouts of exercise.
Objectives:
We provide insights on (1) how digital tools can support the utilisation of waiting times for physical activity, and (2) how an application that makes exercises suggestions in a manner designed to be frictionless is experienced by users.
Methods:
We developed the Active Waiting (AW) app, a prototype for addressing physical activity barriers such as time and effort, as well as an additional barrier related to the social awkwardness linked to performing exercises in public. AW was iteratively evaluated through guerrilla testing and a field study.
Results:
Study participants appreciated the application for making waiting times more interesting, offering viable exercise suggestions, encouraging the taking of additional (active) breaks, and most of all the possibility to select unobtrusive exercises.
Conclusion:
The study indicates that unobtrusive and easily accessible exercises integrated into waiting times can effectively reduce barriers to physical activity. While the app was well-received for enabling meaningful use of waiting time, future work could explore more proactive approaches to encourage consistent usage in diverse daily contexts.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Metabolic States of the Body: The Postabsorptive State
Initially, glycogen stored in the liver is broken down to release glucose into the bloodstream, while glycogen in the muscles is broken down to supply glucose for energy directly within the muscle cells. As glycogen stores diminish,...
Exercise Stress Test
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes
Muscle Stimulation Frequency
Wave summation
At low firing rates, motor neurons induce individual twitch contractions in muscle fibers. These twitches...

