Adherence to worksite exercise programs: an integrative review of recent research

1. Improving worker physical fitness through worksite exercise programs offers many benefits to the employee and the employer. Unfortunately, a small percentage of workers who begin an exercise program adhere to it. 2. It is essential to design program strategies to promote exercise adherence among persons who do not currently exercise at levels that achieve health benefits. 3. The results of this review of worksite research suggest a number of strategies that were successful in increasing at least short term exercise adherence. 4. Carefully controlled studies are needed to identify specific worksite exercise interventions or combination of interventions that maximize the initiation of exercise as well as short and long term adherence. A combination of strategies improves exercise adherence for at least 6 months, but more research is needed to determine long term maintenance of an exercise program.