Overview and details of the sessions of this conference. Please select a date or location to show only sessions at that day or location. Please select a single session for detailed view (with abstracts and downloads if available).
Short bursts of vigorous intensity physical activity may improve work ability among inactive population: pooled analysis of two cross-sectional studies in the Finnish working-aged adults
Valtteri Pohjola1, Katariina Sarttila1, Antti Löppönen2, Annamari Lundqvist1, Jouni Lahti1
1: Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland; 2: University of Jyväskylä. Finland
Background and aim of the study: Short bursts of vigorous intensity physical activity (VPA) in daily living may provide substantial health benefits for those not engaging in regular exercise. However, device-based short VPA bursts have not yet been investigated relative to the work ability. We examined how device-based short bursts of VPA associates with work ability in representative samples of Finnish population. Methods: We analyzed pooled data from two cross-sectional, population-based health examination surveys comprising adults aged 20–74 years: FinHealth 2017 (n=752) and Healthy Finland 2023 (n=749). Participants were categorized as inactive if, based on self‑reported information, they engaged in at most only light‑intensity leisure‑time physical activity. Average daily frequency (bouts/day) of VPA bouts lasting up to one minute were measured using a wrist-worn accelerometer. Perceived work ability was assessed with questionnaire. Associations were examined with multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models. Results: Of the study sample, 30% had limited work ability, with limited work ability being significantly higher in the inactive (42%) than the active (19%) population in their leisure-time. After adjusting for covariates, among the inactive, those in the highest third of short VPA bout frequency (≥13bouts/day) had lower odds for limited work ability compared to those not accumulating short bouts of VPA (OR=0.32; 95% CI 0.11-0.99). Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of LTPA in work ability promotion. However, short bouts of VPA may represent an appropriate physical activity target, particularly for individuals who are unable or unwilling to engage in structured exercise in their leisure-time.
