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. 2023 Apr;53(4):887-901.
doi: 10.1007/s40279-023-01821-4. Epub 2023 Feb 25.

Short High-Intensity Interval Exercise for Workplace-Based Physical Activity Interventions: A Systematic Review on Feasibility and Effectiveness

Stefano Amatori  1 , Carlo Ferri Marini  1 , Erica Gobbi  2 , Davide Sisti  1 , Germana Giombini  3 , Rosalba Rombaldoni  3 , Marco B L Rocchi  1 , Francesco Lucertini  1 , Ario Federici  1 , Fabrizio Perroni  1 , Giorgio Calcagnini  3
Affiliations

Short High-Intensity Interval Exercise for Workplace-Based Physical Activity Interventions: A Systematic Review on Feasibility and Effectiveness

Stefano Amatori et al. Sports Med. 2023 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Workplace exercise interventions showed good results, but lack of time was often reported as a barrier to participation. To overcome this problem, several studies attempted to implement short high-intensity interval training (HIT) within the workplace.

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review is to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of HIT interventions within the workplace setting.

Data sources: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and SPORTDiscus to identify articles related to HIT within the workplace.

Study eligibility criteria: Only interventions that consisted of HIT programmes within the workplace and tested at least one physiological, psychological, or work-related outcome were included.

Results: Seven studies (317 participants) met the inclusion criteria. HIT interventions lasted 6-12 weeks, with a frequency of 2-4 sessions/week and a duration of 8-30 min per session. Feasibility was qualitatively investigated in four studies, with key positive aspects reported for HIT time-appeal, the sense of competence driven by individual intensity, and improved intention to exercise; five studies reported adherence rates > 80%. Small-to-large effect sizes were reported for improvements in cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness. Small-to-medium effect sizes were reported for blood parameters and health-related quality of life.

Conclusions: HIT interventions in the workplace showed limited effectiveness in improving health-related outcomes, while promising results regarding feasibility were reported, mainly due to the time-efficiency and the positive post-exercise psychosocial responses. However, further high-quality studies involving more participants are still needed to make firm conclusions on HIT effectiveness and feasibility compared to other types of exercise in this context.

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Conflict of interest statement

Stefano Amatori, Carlo Ferri Marini, Erica Gobbi, Davide Sisti, Germana Giombini, Rosalba Rombaldoni, Marco B.L. Rocchi, Francesco Lucertini, Ario Federici, Fabrizio Perroni, and Giorgio Calcagnini declare no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this review.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flow diagram. Created with the ShinyApp by Haddaway et al. [31]. HIIT high-intensity interval training, PRISMA Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
GOfER diagram of the studies' characteristics and main results. Mean age and adherence rates are reported. If two groups were present, age was reported as the median between the two groups. For graphical reasons, outcomes are summarised into categories: each category might contain more than one outcome (e.g. “body composition” includes outcomes such as weight, body mass index, fat mass). Circles represent the between-group effect sizes (if a control group was present) or within-group effect sizes (in the case of a pre–post design without a control group), representing the highest effect size value recorded in each category. CON control group, d Cohen’s d effect size, GOfER Graphical Overview for Evidence Reviews, HIT high-intensity interval training, HRmax maximal heart rate, HR-QoL health-related quality of life, HRR heart rate reserve, MICT moderate-intensity continuous training, – not reported
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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