PMID 34278300

Research
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Brief Exercise at Work (BE@Work): A Mixed-Methods Pilot Trial of a Workplace High-Intensity Interval Training Intervention

Burn NL, Weston M, Atkinson G, Graham M, Weston KL

Question

Is a flexible, multi-activity workplace HIIT program feasible, acceptable, and promising enough to justify a definitive randomized trial?

Summary

This non-randomized pilot tested an 8-week workplace HIIT program using boxing, stair climbing, and stepping. Attendance and intensity fidelity were fairly good, and estimated VO2max improved more than control with a moderate pilot effect, but the study was exploratory and not powered for formal effectiveness claims. Two intervention-related injuries occurred, including a fractured elbow from tripping during a shuttle run.

Methodology

  • Healthy office-based employees.
  • 54 participants.
  • Boxing, stair climbing, stepping, shuttle runs, skipping/jumping.
  • Work intervals: 60 s high-intensity bout.
  • Recovery: 75 s rest.
  • Intensity: Target >=85% HRmax; mean achieved peak HR 87% HRmax.
  • About 15 to <=22 min.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 8 weeks.
  • Mixed-methods pilot non-randomized controlled trial.
  • Predicted VO2max, Feasibility and fidelity, Cardiometabolic and fitness markers, and Well-being were tracked.

Outcomes

Feasibility/fidelity

Attendance and intensity fidelity were adequate for a pilot workplace program.

Attendance 82 +/- 15%; mean peak HR 87% HRmax; median 70% of bouts reached >=85% HRmax.

Improved

Predicted VO2max

Pilot control-adjusted effect favored BE@Work.

+3.9 mL/kg/min, 95% CI -0.2 to 8.1, d = 0.47.

Improved

Well-being and quality of life

Vitality, perceived stress, general health perceptions, and WEMWS favored intervention with small-to-moderate effects; pain favored control.

Vitality d = 0.51; PSS d = -0.40; WEMWS d = 0.34; pain d = -0.67.

Mixed

Safety

Two intervention-related injuries occurred.

One fractured elbow with withdrawal; one minor calf strain with one missed session.

Safety concern

Insights

  • Flexible scheduling and exercise choice supported workplace HIIT attendance.
  • Session length under 22 min helped fit workday constraints.
  • Movement selection needs safety review; shuttle runs created injuries.
  • Pilot results justify future trials but not definitive claims.

Limitations

  • Non-randomized allocation by workplace.
  • Pilot sample and not powered for effectiveness.
  • Predicted rather than directly measured VO2max.
  • Self-reported physical activity instead of accelerometry.
  • Scalability concerns from offering 19 sessions per week.
  • Study-related injuries.

Safety

  • One participant tripped during a shuttle run, fractured an elbow, withdrew, and later fully recovered.
  • One participant had a minor calf strain during a shuttle run and missed one session.
  • Participants reported breathlessness, local muscular fatigue, heat, sweating, stitches, and tiredness during HIIT.