Influence of workplace exercise on workers' cognitive performance/ Influencia da ginastica laboral no desempenho cognitivo de trabalhadores

• Published in: Revista brasileira de medicina do trabalho Vol. 19; no. 2; p. 157
• Main Authors: Silva, Debora Nayara Felix Barbosa da, Faro, Heloiana Karoliny Campos, Tavares, Marilia Padilha Ma, Neto , Luiz Inacio do Nascimento, Agricola, Pedro Moraes Dutra, Machado, Daniel Gomes da Silva
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Associacao Nacional de Medicina do Trabalho 01-04-2021
• DOI: 10.47626/1679-4435-2021-573
• ISSN: 1679-4435

Introduction: Occupational tasks require physical and cognitive efforts. Within this context, workplace exercise seems to be a promising intervention to improve physical capacity. However, little is known about the influence of workplace exercise on cognitive performance. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of workplace exercise on cognitive performance in administrative office workers. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 16 workers who performed workplace exercise training and 14 workers who did not (control group). The assessments were conducted after 3 months of workplace exercise training (stretching exercises, two to three times/week, 10-15 minutes/day). Physical activity level was assessed with the short form of International Physical Activity Questionnaire, while cognitive performance was assessed using computerized versions of Stroop color-word test and Corsi block-tapping test. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in any Stroop test phases or in Stroop interference (349.3 [+ or -] 103.52 vs. 416.0 [+ or -] 129.7 ms; 5.37 [+ or -] 2.11 vs. 10.12 [+ or -] 6.55 %error; p > 0.05). No difference was found in Corsi test sequence of blocks (5.50 [+ or -] 0.82 vs. 5.57 [+ or -] 0.76 blocks) or in the total score (45.19 [+ or -] 15.96 vs. 46.93 [+ or -] 15.93 points; p > 0.77). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that 12 weeks of workplace exercise training does not improve the cognitive performance of office workers. Keywords: physical exercise; cognition; executive function; training; memory. Introducao: Atividades ocupacionais demandam esforcos fisicos e cognitivos. Nesse sentido, a ginastica laboral parece ser uma atividade que pode promover ganhos fisicos interessantes dentro do ambiente de trabalho. Entretanto, pouco se sabe sobre a influencia dessa atividade sobre o desempenho cognitivo. Objetivos: O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a influencia da ginastica laboral no desempenho cognitivo de trabalhadores de setores administrativos. Metodos: Estudo transversal, no qual foram avaliados 16 funcionarios praticantes de ginastica laboral e 14 funcionarios nao praticantes (grupo controle). As avaliacoes aconteceram apos 3 meses de aplicacao do programa de ginastica laboral (atividade de alongamento, duas-tres vezes/semana, 1015 minutos/dia). Foram avaliados o nivel de atividade fisica e o desempenho cognitivo utilizando-se o teste de Stroop e bloco de Corsi. Resultados: Nao houve diferenca significativa (p > 0,05) entre os grupos em nenhuma das fases do teste de cores de Stroop e no efeito Stroop (349,3 [+ or -] 103,52 vs. 416,0 [+ or -] 129,7 ms; 5,37 [+ or -] 2,11 vs. 10,12 [+ or -] 6,55 %erro), bem como na sequencia de blocos acertados (5,50 [+ or -] 0,82 vs. 5,57 [+ or -] 0,76 blocos) e no escore total dos blocos de Corsi (45,19 [+ or -] 15,96 vs. 46,93 [+ or -] 15,93; p > 0,77 pontos). Conclusoes: Os resultados do estudo sugerem que 12 semanas de ginastica laboral nao exercem influencia sobre o desempenho cognitivo dos trabalhadores. Palavras-chave: exercicio fisico; cognicao; funcao executiva; ginastica; memoria.