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Schäfer C, Mayr B, Fernandez La Puente de Battre MD, Reich B, Schmied C, Loidl M, Niederseer D, Niebauer J. Health effects of active commuting to work: The available evidence before GISMO. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2021; 30 Suppl 1:8-14. [PMID: 32297362 PMCID: PMC7540011 DOI: 10.1111/sms.13685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Sedentary lifestyle is a major modifiable risk factor for many chronic diseases. Global guidelines recommend for maintaining health in adults, at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity of physical activity throughout the week, but compliance is insufficient and health problems arise. One obvious way to overcome this is to integrate physical activity into the daily routine for example by active commuting to work. Scientific evidence, however, is scarce and therefore we set out to perform this systematic review of the available literature to improve understanding of the efficiency of active commuting initiatives on health. Literature searches were performed in PubMed and Cochrane database. Altogether, 37 studies were screened. Thereof, eight publications were reviewed, which included 555 participants. The mean study duration of the reviewed research was 36 ± 26 (8-72) weeks. Overall, active commuting in previously untrained subjects of both sexes significantly improved exercise capacity, maximal power, blood pressure, lipid parameters including cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and waist circumference. Improvement was independent of the type of active commuting. Despite relatively few studies that were previously performed, this review revealed that active commuting has health beneficial effects comparable to those of moderate exercise training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Schäfer
- University Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Barbara Mayr
- University Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Maria Dolores Fernandez La Puente de Battre
- University Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Bernhard Reich
- University Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Christian Schmied
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Centre, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Loidl
- Department of Geoinformatics, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - David Niederseer
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Centre, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Josef Niebauer
- University Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
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Reich B, Niederseer D, Loidl M, Fernandez La Puente de Battre MD, Rossi VA, Zagel B, Caselli S, Schmied C, Niebauer J. Effects of active commuting on cardiovascular risk factors: GISMO-a randomized controlled feasibility study. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2020; 30 Suppl 1:15-23. [PMID: 32335963 PMCID: PMC7496369 DOI: 10.1111/sms.13697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
A sedentary lifestyle is a major modifiable risk factor for many chronic diseases. Lifestyle modification in order to increase exercise capacity is key in the prevention and rehabilitation of chronic diseases. This could be achieved by active commute. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of daily active commuting on physical activity (PA) and exercise capacity. Seventy‐three healthy hospital employees (age: 46 ± 9 years, 38% male), with a predominantly passive way of commuting, were randomly assigned to two parallel groups, a control group (CG, N = 22) or an intervention group (IG, N = 51), which was further split into public transportation/active commuting (IG‐PT, N = 25) and cycling (IG‐C, N = 26). Both intervention groups were asked to reach 150 min/wk of moderate‐ to vigorous‐intensity exercise during their commute for 1 year. CG maintained a passive commuting mode. All participants underwent assessment of anthropometry, risk factor stratification, and exercise capacity by a medical doctor at the Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation. Weekly physical activity, using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and commuting behavior, using an online diary, were used to assess physical activity. At the end of the study, the change in exercise capacity did significantly differ between IG and CG (P = .003, ES = 0.82). Actively covered distances through commuting significantly differed between groups (walking P = .026; cycling P < .001). Therefore, active commuting improves exercise capacity and can be recommended to the working population to increase exercise capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Reich
- Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - David Niederseer
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Loidl
- Department of Geoinformatics, Paris Lodron University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Maria Dolores Fernandez La Puente de Battre
- Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Valentina Alice Rossi
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Bernhard Zagel
- Department of Geoinformatics, Paris Lodron University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Stefano Caselli
- Cardiovascular Center Zürich, Hirslanden Klinik im Park, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Schmied
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Josef Niebauer
- Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
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Sareban M, Fernandez La Puente de Battre MD, Reich B, Schmied C, Loidl M, Niederseer D, Niebauer J. Effects of active commuting to work for 12 months on cardiovascular risk factors and body composition. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2020; 30 Suppl 1:24-30. [PMID: 32333707 PMCID: PMC7496505 DOI: 10.1111/sms.13695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Active commuting has the potential to decrease cardiovascular risk by increasing physical activity. We aimed to investigate the effects of active commuting to work for 12 months on body composition and cardiovascular risk factors. Therefore, 73 hospital employees (age: 46 ± 9 years, 36% males), with a predominantly passive way of commuting, were randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG) in a 2:1 fashion. The IG was further divided into a public transportation plus active commuting group (IG‐PT) and a cycling group (IG‐C). Both IGs were prompted to reach 150 min/wk of moderate intensity exercise. Daily self‐reported commuting details were verified by GPS tracking. All subjects underwent assessment of body composition, resting blood pressure, glycemic control, and lipid profile at the beginning and end of the study. Data for final analyses were available in 62 subjects. Commuting details indicated that the subjects randomized to IG changed their commuting habits. HbA1c decreased by 0.2% [95%CI: −0.3, −0.2] in IG‐PT but was not statistically different between groups (P = .06). LDL cholesterol decreased in IG‐C by 0.8 mmol/L [−1.1, −0.4] and by 0.6 mmol/L [−1.2, 0.1] in IG‐PT which can be considered biologically relevant but did not yield statistical significance. Body composition and blood pressure did not differ between groups. Active commuting to work for 12 months did not change body composition but yielded relevant changes in lipid profile and glycemic control. Health benefits of active commuting should be addressed by healthcare professionals when counseling individuals that seek to improve their cardiovascular risk profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Sareban
- University Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Maria Dolores Fernandez La Puente de Battre
- University Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Bernhard Reich
- University Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Christian Schmied
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Centre, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Loidl
- Department of Geoinformatics, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - David Niederseer
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Centre, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Josef Niebauer
- University Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
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Fernandez La Puente de Battre MD, Neumeier LM, Ensslin C, Loidl M, Gräni C, Schmied C, Reich B, Niebauer J, Niederseer D. What it takes to recruit 77 subjects for a one-year study on active commuting. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2020; 30:1090-1095. [PMID: 32285530 DOI: 10.1111/sms.13682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Dolores Fernandez La Puente de Battre
- Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Luis Moritz Neumeier
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Ensslin
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Loidl
- Department of Geoinformatics, Paris Lodron University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Christoph Gräni
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christian Schmied
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Bernhard Reich
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Josef Niebauer
- Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - David Niederseer
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Neumeier LM, Loidl M, Reich B, Fernandez La Puente de Battre MD, Kissel CK, Templin C, Schmied C, Niebauer J, Niederseer D. Effects of active commuting on health-related quality of life and sickness-related absence. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2020; 30 Suppl 1:31-40. [PMID: 32246792 DOI: 10.1111/sms.13667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Increased physical activity is associated with numerous health benefits. This study investigated the effect of active commuting (walking and cycling to work) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and absence days from work due to sickness in healthy working adults. In total, 73 participants (age: 46 ± 9 years), all working at a tertiary university hospital in Salzburg, Austria, were randomized into an intervention group (IG, n = 51) and a control group (CG, n = 22). The IG was asked to commute actively for twelve months, whereas the CG did not have to change their usual commuting behavior. IG was divided into two subgroups: IG-C (cycling, n = 26) was asked to commute by bicycle and IG-PT (public transport, n = 25) partially using public transportation and walked the remaining distance to work. Significant positive changes in IG were observed in four subcomponents of the SF-36 (physical functioning (95 [10] to 100 [8.8], P = .023), mental health (82 [15] to 86 [15], P = .036), vitality (65 [20] to 70 [14], P = .005), and general health (70 [19] to 80 [24], P = .004)) as well as the physical component summary score (56.5 [9] to 59.2 [6.3], P = .002). IG-C showed greater and more statistically significant changes regarding HRQoL compared to IG-PT. Associations between active commuting and sick-leave days were only observed in IG-PT (7.5 [14.8] to 4.0 [11.3] days, P = .038). In conclusion, active commuting improves various components of HRQoL and might therefore be a possible strategy to increase quality of life in the workforce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis M Neumeier
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Centre, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Loidl
- Department of Geoinformatics-Z_GIS, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Bernhard Reich
- Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Maria Dolores Fernandez La Puente de Battre
- Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Christine K Kissel
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Centre, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Templin
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Centre, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Schmied
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Centre, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Josef Niebauer
- Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - David Niederseer
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Centre, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Loidl M, Stutz P, Fernandez Lapuente de Battre MD, Schmied C, Reich B, Bohm P, Sedlacek N, Niebauer J, Niederseer D. Merging self-reported with technically sensed data for tracking mobility behavior in a naturalistic intervention study. Insights from the GISMO study. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2020; 30 Suppl 1:41-49. [PMID: 32034943 PMCID: PMC7496425 DOI: 10.1111/sms.13636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Sound exposure data are central for any intervention study. In the case of utilitarian mobility, where studies cannot be conducted in controlled environments, exposure data are commonly self‐reported. For short‐term intervention studies, wearable devices with location sensors are increasingly employed. We aimed to combine self‐reported and technically sensed mobility data, in order to provide more accurate and reliable exposure data for GISMO, a long‐term intervention study. Through spatio‐temporal data matching procedures, we are able to determine the amount of mobility for all modes at the best possible accuracy level. Self‐reported data deviate ±10% from the corrected reference. Derived modal split statistics prove high compliance to the respective recommendations for the control group (CG) and the two intervention groups (IG‐PT, IG‐C). About 73.7% of total mileage was travelled by car in CG. This share was 10.3% (IG‐PT) and 9.7% (IG‐C), respectively, in the intervention groups. Commuting distances were comparable in CG and IG, but annual mean travel times differ between
x¯
= 8,458 min (σ = 6,427 min) for IG‐PT,
x¯
= 8,444 min (σ = 5,961 min) for IG‐C, and
x¯
= 5,223 min (σ = 5,463 min) for CG. Seasonal variabilities of modal split statistics were observable. However, in IG‐PT and IG‐C no shift toward the car occurred during winter months. Although no perfect single‐method solution for acquiring exposure data in mobility‐related, naturalistic intervention studies exists, we achieved substantially improved results by combining two data sources, based on spatio‐temporal matching procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Loidl
- Department of Geoinformatics, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Petra Stutz
- Department of Geoinformatics, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Maria Dolores Fernandez Lapuente de Battre
- University Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Christian Schmied
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bernhard Reich
- University Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Philipp Bohm
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Josef Niebauer
- University Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - David Niederseer
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Niederseer D, Schmied C, Niebauer J, Loidl M. Geographical Information Support for Health Mobility-Promoting active commuting as a novel option to counteract sedentary lifestyle. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2019; 30 Suppl 1:5-7. [PMID: 31389090 DOI: 10.1111/sms.13533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Niederseer
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Schmied
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Josef Niebauer
- Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation, Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Martin Loidl
- Department of Geoinformatics, Paris Lodron University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
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