Effectiveness of a combined social and physical environmental intervention on presenteeism, absenteeism, work performance, and work engagement in office employees.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a combined social and physical environmental intervention as well as the effectiveness of both separate interventions.

Methods: In a 2 × 2 factorial design, 412 office employees were allocated to the combined social and physical environmental intervention, to the social environmental intervention only, to the physical environmental intervention only, or were part of the control group. Data on presenteeism, absenteeism, work performance, and work engagement were obtained with questionnaires at baseline, 6, and 12 months.

Feasibility of an Active Game Program in a Dutch Pre-Vocational High School Setting.

Objective: This study examined the use of an active gaming program in a pre-vocational school over a 1-year period.

Subjects And Methods: Three hundred students (mean age, 13.3 years; range, 12-18 years) were invited to participate and exposed to the active game program called E-sportszone, in which they could participate during the school day and after school.

Process evaluation of a worksite social and physical environmental intervention.

Objective: To evaluate the process of implementation of a social and physical environmental intervention and to explore differences regarding this process between both interventions.

Methods: Context, recruitment, dose delivered, fidelity, reach, dose received, satisfaction, and implementation barriers were investigated.

Results: Reach for the social and physical environmental interventions ranged from 45% to 76%.

Longitudinal person-related determinants of physical activity in young adults.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the longitudinal associations of person-related factors with physical activity (PA) behavior in young adults.

Methods: We analyzed longitudinal self-reported time spent in moderate-intensity PA (MPA; 4-7 METs) and vigorous-intensity PA (VPA; >7 METs) from 499 young adults (49% male) who participated in the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study at the age of 21, 27, 32, and 36 yr. Sociodemographic factors (i.

Child Goal Setting of Dietary and Physical Activity in a Serious Videogame.

Objective: To inform child obesity prevention programs, the current article identified what children thought were the most important goals, values, and perceived barriers related to healthy eating and physical activity (PA) within a serious videogame for health, "Escape from Diab" (Archimage Inc., Houston, TX).

Subjects And Methods: One hundred three children, 10-12 years of age, played "Escape from Diab.

Active gaming in Dutch adolescents: a descriptive study.

Background: Adequate levels of physical activity are part of a healthy lifestyle and in this way linked to better health outcomes. For children and adolescents, the physical activity guideline recommends at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day. However, many adolescents are not physically active enough and they spend a lot of their time on sedentary activities (such as video games).

Adolescents' Views on Active and Non-Active Videogames: A Focus Group Study.

Objective: Active games require whole-body movement and may be an innovative tool to substitute sedentary pastime with more active time and may therefore contribute to adolescents' health. To inform strategies aimed at reducing sedentary behavior by replacing non-active with active gaming, perceptions and context of active and non-active gaming are explored.

Subjects And Methods: Six focus groups were conducted with adolescents 12-16 years old representing a range of education levels.

The economic evaluation of a participatory ergonomics programme to prevent low back and neck pain.

This study was an economic evaluation conducted alongside a cluster randomised controlled trial with a follow-up of 12 months. The aim was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit of the Stay@Work Participatory Ergonomics programme (PE) compared to a control group (no PE). In total, 37 departments (n=3047 workers) were randomised into either the intervention (PE) or control group (no PE).

The effectiveness of participatory ergonomics to prevent low-back and neck pain--results of a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to investigate the effectiveness of the Stay@Work participatory ergonomics (PE) program to prevent low-back and neck pain.

Methods: A total of 37 departments were randomly allocated to either the intervention (PE) or control group (no PE). During a six-hour meeting, working groups followed the PE steps and composed and prioritized ergonomic measures aimed at preventing low-back and neck pain.

Process evaluation of a participatory ergonomics programme to prevent low back pain and neck pain among workers.

Background: Both low back pain (LBP) and neck pain (NP) are major occupational health problems. In the workplace, participatory ergonomics (PE) is frequently used on musculoskeletal disorders. However, evidence on the effectiveness of PE to prevent LBP and NP obtained from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) is scarce.

What are possible barriers and facilitators to implementation of a Participatory Ergonomics programme?

Background: Low back pain (LBP) and neck pain (NP) are common among workers. Participatory Ergonomics (PE) is used as an implementation strategy to prevent these symptoms. By following the steps of PE, working groups composed and prioritised ergonomic measures, and developed an implementation plan.

A worksite prevention program for construction workers: design of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: A worksite prevention program was developed to promote the work ability of construction workers and thereby prolong a healthy working life. The objective of this paper is to present the design of a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of that intervention program compared with usual care for construction workers.

Methods: The study is designed as a randomized controlled trial with a follow-up of one year.

Meta-analyses of workplace physical activity and dietary behaviour interventions on weight outcomes.

This meta-analytic review critically examines the effectiveness of workplace interventions targeting physical activity, dietary behaviour or both on weight outcomes. Data could be extracted from 22 studies published between 1980 and November 2009 for meta-analyses. The GRADE approach was used to determine the level of evidence for each pooled outcome measure.

Accelerometers and Internet for physical activity promotion in youth? Feasibility and effectiveness of a minimal intervention [ISRCTN93896459].

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a 3-month minimal physical activity (PA) intervention in adolescents.

Methods: A randomised controlled trial, including five secondary schools (n=87). In the 3-month intervention (Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2005) adolescents were provided with a PAM accelerometer, coupled to a web-based tailored PA advice (PAM COACH).

Feasibility and effectiveness of a walking program for community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

This study examined the feasibility and effect on aerobic fitness of a 1-yr, twice-weekly, group-based moderate-intensity walking program (MI-WP, n = 77) compared with a low-intensity activity program (LI-AP, n = 75) for community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Thirty participants did not start a program; median attendance in the other 122 participants was 71%. Small but significant associations were observed between attendance and memory in the MI-WP and general cognition in the LI-AP.

Feasibility and effectiveness of online physical activity advice based on a personal activity monitor: randomized controlled trial.

Background: Inactive people are often not aware of the fact that they are insufficiently active. Providing insight into their actual physical activity (PA) levels may raise awareness and could, in combination with tailored PA advice, stimulate a physically active lifestyle.

Objective: This study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of a 3-month intervention in which Dutch office workers were provided with a personal activity monitor (PAM) coupled to simple and concise Web-based tailored PA advice (PAM COACH).

Disagreement in physical activity assessed by accelerometer and self-report in subgroups of age, gender, education and weight status.

Background: The purpose of this study is to compare self-reported time (by questionnaire) and objectively measured time (by accelerometer) spent on physical activity at moderate (MPA) and vigorous intensity (VPA) in subgroups of age, gender, education and weight status.

Methods: In total, 236 adolescents (aged 12-18) and 301 adults (aged 22-40), completed the questionnaire and wore an accelerometer for two weeks.

Results: Adolescents reported exceptionally more time spent on MPA (mean difference 596 +/- 704 min/wk) and VPA (mean difference 178 +/- 315 min/wk) than was assessed objectively by the accelerometer.

Age-related differences in muscular capacity among workers.

Purpose: To quantify the age-related changes in muscular capacity in a working population, and to investigate whether these changes are dependent on sports participation.

Methods: Data were used from the longitudinal study on musculoskeletal disorders, absenteeism, stress and health (n = 1,800). At baseline, isokinetic lifting strength and static muscle endurance were assessed, and endurance measurements were repeated after 3 years of follow-up.

Return to work in a cohort of low back pain patients: development and validation of a clinical prediction rule.

Background: From the viewpoint of cost prevention, it is necessary to identify patients that are of high risk for long-term work disability, production loss and sick-leave.

Methods: Secondary data analysis in a cohort of 628 workers on sick-leave between 3 and 6 weeks due to low back pain (LBP). The association of a broad set of demographic, work, LBP and psychosocial related factors on lasting return to work was studied using Cox regression analysis with backward selection.

The effect of a resistance-training program on muscle strength, physical workload, muscle fatigue and musculoskeletal discomfort: an experiment.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of a resistance-training program on muscle strength of the back and neck/shoulder muscles, relative physical workload, muscle fatigue and musculoskeletal discomfort during a simulated assembly and lifting task. Twenty-two workers were randomized over an 8-week resistance-training group, and a control group. Isokinetic muscle strength was assessed using the Cybex dynamometer, muscle fatigue was measured using EMG, and perceived discomfort was measured using a 10-point scale.

The effects of exercise on cognition in older adults with and without cognitive decline: a systematic review.

Objective: To systematically review the effect of physical exercise on cognition in older adults with and without cognitive decline.

Data Sources: : Randomized controlled trials were identified by literature searches in PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, and AgeLine.

Study Selection: Papers were included on the basis of predefined inclusion criteria.

Stay@Work: Participatory Ergonomics to prevent low back and neck pain among workers: design of a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the (cost-)effectiveness.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) and neck pain (NP) are a major public health problem with considerable costs for individuals, companies and society. Therefore, prevention is imperative. The Stay@Work study investigates the (cost-)effectiveness of Participatory Ergonomics (PE) to prevent LBP and NP among workers.

Grip force control in patients with neck and upper extremity pain and healthy controls.

Objective: To investigate whether sensory and motor problems in patients with non-specific neck and upper extremity pain can be ascribed to a deficit of sensory-motor integration.

Methods: Grip force control and adaptation were measured in 81 cases, 32 former cases and 39 healthy controls, during repetitive lifting and holding of an object. The object (300 g) was lifted vertically over 20 cm and held for 5s, using the dominant arm (the affected arm in all cases).

Does musculoskeletal discomfort at work predict future musculoskeletal pain?

The objective of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate if peak or cumulative musculoskeletal discomfort may predict future low-back, neck or shoulder pain among symptom-free workers. At baseline, discomfort per body region was rated on a 10-point scale six times during a working day. Questionnaires on pain were sent out three times during follow-up.

Walking or vitamin B for cognition in older adults with mild cognitive impairment? A randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To examine the effects of aerobic exercise or vitamin B supplementation on cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Design: Randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: General community.