Interrupting sedentary behaviour in the workplace through active breaks: a protocol study

Sedentary behaviour (SB) is linked to a higher risk of metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, all-cause mortality and musculoskeletal decline. Office workers (OW) are particularly vulnerable to prolonged SB due to the nature of their work. Incorporating active breaks (ABs), brief periods of physical activity (PA) during the workday may offer a promising strategy to interrupt SB in this setting. This protocol outlines the design of a non-randomised controlled study aimed at interrupting SB among OW by implementing ABs during working hours. The potential impact of ABs on changes in SB patterns and on physical and psychosocial outcomes will also be assessed. Participants in the study will self-select into an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). Both groups will be assessed at baseline (T0) and after 4 months (T1) using accelerometers, ad hoc questionnaires and validated tools. The IG will take part in a 4-month ABs programme, beginning with a counselling session with a kinesiologist. To monitor adherence, compliance, engagement and satisfaction, participants in the IG will complete daily surveys during the first and last 2 weeks of the intervention, keep a daily adherence diary throughout the study and complete a final ad hoc questionnaire to assess satisfaction with the ABs programme. Approval for this study was obtained from the Bioethical Committee of the University of Bologna. The findings could provide an important contribution to the scientific evidence supporting ABs interventions, highlighting their psychosocial and physical benefits in workplace settings.