Feasibility and functional benefits of a workplace short-burst walking intervention: A pilot study in sedentary middle-aged employees
Ravi Shankar ReddyBackground
Prolonged sedentary behavior among office workers is associated with reduced physical function, increased fatigue, and decreased occupational well-being. Short-burst walking interventions have shown promise in counteracting these risks but require further evidence regarding their feasibility and functional impact in workplace settings.
Objective
To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a short-burst walking intervention on functional mobility and self-reported work outcomes among sedentary middle-aged employees.
Methods
A single-group pre-post pilot study was conducted with 46 participants (mean age 49.87 ± 6.45 years). The 4-week intervention involved brief walking sessions integrated into work hours (5–10 min, 3–5 times/day, 5 days/week). Feasibility metrics included recruitment, adherence, satisfaction, and attrition. Outcome measures included the Five Times Sit-to-Stand (5xSTS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), gait speed, balance, functional reach, and self-reported occupational outcomes. The primary outcomes were feasibility indicators (recruitment, adherence, satisfaction, and attrition), while secondary outcomes were exploratory efficacy measures, including functional mobility (5xSTS), TUG, gait speed, balance, and functional reach) and self-reported occupational outcomes (productivity, fatigue interference, mental fatigue, job satisfaction, and work engagement), assessed to estimate potential intervention effects and inform future trials.
Results
Feasibility was high, with a recruitment rate of 89.13%, adherence of 87.25%, and participant satisfaction of 4.56 ± 0.61. Statistically significant improvements were observed in 5xSTS (−1.45 s, p < 0.001), TUG (−0.67 s, p = 0.002), gait speed (+0.12 m/s, p = 0.006), and single-leg stance (+3.69 s, p = 0.017). Self-reported productivity increased (+1.08 points, p = 0.001), and fatigue interference decreased (−1.09 points, p < 0.001). Work engagement scores improved by +2.25 points (p = 0.002).
Conclusions
The intervention was feasible and well-tolerated, with significant gains in both physical and occupational functioning. These findings support further evaluation through larger controlled trials. While the intervention appears feasible and shows promising preliminary functional benefits, its efficacy should be interpreted cautiously and requires confirmation through adequately powered randomized controlled trials.