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Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology
Published in: Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Research

Effects of six month personalized endurance training on work ability in middle-aged sedentary women: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Authors: Hedwig T. Stenner, Julian Eigendorf, Arno Kerling, Momme Kueck, Alexander A. Hanke, Johanna Boyen, Anne-Katrin Nelius, Anette Melk, Dietmar Boethig, Christoph Bara, Andres Hilfiker, Dominik Berliner, Johann Bauersachs, Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner, Jörg Eberhard, Meike Stiesch, Cordula Schippert, Axel Haverich, Uwe Tegtbur, Sven Haufe

Published in: Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

To test the effects of guided endurance training on work ability in middle-aged female hospital workers of various occupations.

Methods

We randomized 265 healthy, sedentary, middle-aged women (45–65 years) to an endurance training group (EG 210 min/week) or a wait-list control group (CG). At baseline and at 6-month follow-up, we assessed work ability (Work Ability Index [WAI]), physical activity (Freiburger activity questionnaire) and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. To examine the influence of baseline work ability, participants were divided into poor-moderate (WAI 1, 7–36 points, n = 83), good (WAI 2, 37–43 points, n = 136) and excellent (WAI 3, 44–49 points, n = 46) WAI subgroups.

Results

Cardiorespiratory fitness improved significantly after 6 months in the EG but not in the CG. The WAI total score increased significantly in the EG (38.3 ± 5.0 to 39.8 ± 4.9 points) but not in the CG (39.4 ± 4.7 to 39.3 ± 4.9 points), with a significant difference between groups (p < 0.01). In the EG, only the poor-moderate subgroup (WAI 1, 33.0 ± 2.9 to 36.6 ± 4.8 points, p < 0.05) increased the WAI total score, with this increase being significantly higher compared to the good (WAI 2, 40.2 ± 2.1 to, 40.4 ± 3.7 points) and excellent (WAI 3, 45.6 ± 1.5 to 45.7 ± 1.8 points) subgroup.

Conclusions

A 6-month guided exercise training intervention significantly increases cardiorespiratory fitness with concomitant improvements in work ability in middle-aged previously sedentary hospital employees. Women with low baseline work ability seem to particularly benefit from the intervention, which implies that similar interventions may be particularly beneficial for this group of individuals.

Trial registration

German Clinical Trails Register Identifier: DRKS00005159. Registered 25 September 2013.
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Metadata
Title
Effects of six month personalized endurance training on work ability in middle-aged sedentary women: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial
Authors
Hedwig T. Stenner
Julian Eigendorf
Arno Kerling
Momme Kueck
Alexander A. Hanke
Johanna Boyen
Anne-Katrin Nelius
Anette Melk
Dietmar Boethig
Christoph Bara
Andres Hilfiker
Dominik Berliner
Johann Bauersachs
Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner
Jörg Eberhard
Meike Stiesch
Cordula Schippert
Axel Haverich
Uwe Tegtbur
Sven Haufe
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6673
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-020-00261-4

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