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Balatoni I, Szépné HV, Kiss T, Adamu UG, Szulc AM, Csernoch L. The Importance of Physical Activity in Preventing Fatigue and Burnout in Healthcare Workers. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:1915. [PMID: 37444749 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11131915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The workers of the health sector are important to the country's economy in many ways. Healthy and rested workers are highly valuable to the public health sector and give a good perception of their work to patients and society. It is thus important to have a sufficient number of healthy working staff in healthcare institutions who do not have work fatigue and burnout. A total of 987 employees-doctors, professional staff, and others-of a large healthcare institution in Hungary voluntarily participated in a survey regarding their lifestyle and physical activity habits and answered the questions anonymously. Women reported less leisure time (p < 0.02), with 54.9% of female respondents saying that they did not exercise regularly, and fatigue was more common among them (p < 0.001). In this respect, the healthcare workers' responses did not differ from those of the overall population. The most common sports were cycling (17.7%), running (15.4%), and working out in a gym (12.3%). Reasons for not participating in sports included lack of time (70.2%) and fatigue (43.9%) as the most frequent responses. Healthcare workers are exposed to a number of risks that require particular attention to maintain their health. Employers should thus focus on implementing programs that prevent burnout and promote healthy lifestyles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ildikó Balatoni
- Clinical Center, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | | | - Tímea Kiss
- Clinical Center, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Umar Gambo Adamu
- Ihrig Károly Doctoral School of Management and Business, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Adam Michał Szulc
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Physical Education, Kazimierz Wielki University, 85-064 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - László Csernoch
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
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Benedict TM, Grier TL, Roy TC, Toussaint MN, Jones BH. Demographic, psychosocial, and physical fitness predictors of successful graduation from U.S. Army Ranger School. MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 35:180-191. [PMID: 37133490 DOI: 10.1080/08995605.2022.2094174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
U.S. Army Ranger School is an arduous 64-day leadership training course designed to simulate the stressors of combat. Although physical fitness has been shown to be an important predictor of successful graduation for Ranger School, psychosocial characteristics like self-efficacy and grit have not been examined. The purpose of this study is to identify personal, psychosocial, and fitness characteristics associated with successful completion of Ranger School. This study was a prospective cohort examining the association of baseline characteristics of Ranger School candidates with a primary outcome of graduation success. Multiple logistic regression was performed to determine the contribution of demographics, psychosocial, fitness and training characteristics to graduation success. Out of 958 eligible Ranger Candidates, this study obtained graduation status for 670 students, 270 (40%) of which graduated. Soldiers who graduated were younger, more likely to come from units with a higher proportion of previous Ranger School graduates, had higher self-efficacy and faster 2-mile run times. The results from this study suggest that Ranger students should arrive in optimal physical conditioning. Furthermore, training programs that optimize student self-efficacy and units with a high proportion of successful Ranger graduates may confer advantage for this challenging leadership course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M. Benedict
- United States Army, Medical Command, Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA
| | - Tyson L. Grier
- United States Army, Medical Command, Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA
| | - Tanja C. Roy
- United States Army, Medical Command, Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA
| | - Maisha N. Toussaint
- United States Army, Medical Command, Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA
| | - Bruce H. Jones
- United States Army, Medical Command, Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA
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Schilling R, Colledge F, Ludyga S, Pühse U, Brand S, Gerber M. Does Cardiorespiratory Fitness Moderate the Association between Occupational Stress, Cardiovascular Risk, and Mental Health in Police Officers? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16132349. [PMID: 31277211 PMCID: PMC6651614 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16132349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background: Chronic exposure to occupational stress may lead to negative health consequences. Creating less stressful work environments and making employees physically and psychologically more resilient against stress are therefore two major public health concerns. This study examined whether cardiorespiratory fitness moderated the association between occupational stress, cardiovascular risk, and mental health. Methods: Stress was assessed via the Effort-Reward Imbalance and Job Demand-Control models in 201 police officers (36% women, Mage = 38.6 years). Higher levels of blood pressure, blood lipids, blood sugar, and unfavorable body composition were considered as cardiovascular risk factors. Burnout, insomnia and overall psychological distress were used as mental health indicators. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed with a submaximal bicycle test. Results: High cardiorespiratory fitness levels were associated with a reduced cardiometabolic risk, whereas high stress levels were associated with better mental health. Among participants who perceived a high Effort-Reward Imbalance, those with high fitness levels showed lower overall cardiovascular risk scores than their colleagues with low fitness levels. Conclusions: Work health programs for police officers should consider the early screening of burnout, sleep disturbances, and overall mental wellbeing. To increase cardiovascular health, including fitness tests in routine health checks and promoting physical activity to further increase cardiorespiratory fitness appears worthwhile.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Schilling
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Flora Colledge
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Ludyga
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Uwe Pühse
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Serge Brand
- Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus Gerber
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
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Thomas MC, Kamarck TW, Li X, Erickson KI, Manuck SB. Physical activity moderates the effects of daily psychosocial stressors on ambulatory blood pressure. Health Psychol 2019; 38:925-935. [PMID: 31120273 DOI: 10.1037/hea0000755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previous literature has shown an inconsistent relationship between physical activity and stressor-evoked blood pressure reactivity. Use of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) may facilitate detecting such a relationship. In this study, the moderating effects of regular physical activity on the magnitude of ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) responses to psychosocial stressors experienced in daily life were examined. METHOD Four hundred seventy-seven healthy working adults (ages 30-54) provided ABP readings and recorded their daily experiences, using electronic diaries (ED), over 4 monitoring days. Measures of momentary Task Strain (high demand, low control) and Social Conflict (rating of recent social interaction quality) were used as indices of stressor exposure, and an accelerometry device was used to create 2 indices of physical activity: weekly average and recent (30 min prior to each ED interview). Multilevel models were used to examine the moderating between- and within-person effects of physical activity on ABP fluctuations corresponding with the momentary psychosocial stressors. RESULTS Weekly physical activity moderated the effects of ABP responses to Task Strain (systolic blood pressure [SBP]: p = .033; diastolic blood pressure [DBP]: p = .028) and Social Conflict (DBP: p = .020), with significant increases in SBP and DBP shown for less physically active individuals but not for more physically active individuals. Similarly, recent physical activity moderated within-person DBP responses to Task Strain (p = .025), with greater DBP increases following less active periods. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that weekly and recent physical activity may moderate the effects of ABP responses to daily psychosocial stress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
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Hordacre B, Immink MA, Ridding MC, Hillier S. Perceptual-motor learning benefits from increased stress and anxiety. Hum Mov Sci 2016; 49:36-46. [PMID: 27309494 DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2016.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Revised: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to manipulate psychological stress and anxiety to investigate effects on ensuing perceptual-motor learning. Thirty-six participants attended two experimental sessions separated by 24h. In the first session, participants were randomized to either a mental arithmetic task known to increase stress and anxiety levels or a control condition and subsequently completed training on a speeded precision pinch task. Learning of the pinch task was assessed at the second session. Those exposed to the high stress-anxiety mental arithmetic task prior to training reported elevated levels of both stress and anxiety and demonstrated shorter movement times and improved retention of movement accuracy and movement variability. Response execution processes appear to benefit from elevated states of stress and anxiety immediately prior to training even when elicited by an unrelated task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenton Hordacre
- The Robinson Research Institute, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Maarten A Immink
- School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
| | - Michael C Ridding
- The Robinson Research Institute, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Susan Hillier
- School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
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Kenny GP, Groeller H, McGinn R, Flouris AD. Age, human performance, and physical employment standards. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2016; 41:S92-S107. [DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2015-0483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The proportion of older workers has increased substantially in recent years, with over 25% of the Canadian labour force aged ≥55 years. Along with chronological age comes age-related declines in functional capacity associated with impairments to the cardiorespiratory and muscular systems. As a result, older workers are reported to exhibit reductions in work output and in the ability to perform and/or sustain the required effort when performing work tasks. However, research has presented some conflicting views on the consequences of aging in the workforce, as physically demanding occupations can be associated with improved or maintained physical function. Furthermore, the current methods for evaluating physical function in older workers often lack specificity and relevance to the actual work tasks, leading to an underestimation of physical capacity in the older worker. Nevertheless, industry often lacks the appropriate information and/or tools to accommodate the aging workforce, particularly in the context of physical employment standards. Ultimately, if appropriate workplace strategies and work performance standards are adopted to optimize the strengths and protect against the vulnerability of the aging workers, they can perform as effectively as their younger counterparts. Our aim in this review is to evaluate the impact of different individual (including physiological decline, chronic disease, lifestyle, and physical activity) and occupational (including shift work, sleep deprivation, and cold/heat exposure) factors on the physical decline of older workers, and therefore the risk of work-related injuries or illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glen P. Kenny
- Human Environmental Physiological Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Herbert Groeller
- Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Ryan McGinn
- Human Environmental Physiological Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Andreas D. Flouris
- Human Environmental Physiological Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
- FAME Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece
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von Haaren B, Ottenbacher J, Muenz J, Neumann R, Boes K, Ebner-Priemer U. Does a 20-week aerobic exercise training programme increase our capabilities to buffer real-life stressors? A randomized, controlled trial using ambulatory assessment. Eur J Appl Physiol 2015; 116:383-94. [PMID: 26582310 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-015-3284-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The cross-stressor adaptation hypothesis suggests that regular exercise leads to adaptations in the stress response systems that induce decreased physiological responses to psychological stressors. Even though an exercise intervention to buffer the detrimental effects of psychological stressors on health might be of utmost importance, empirical evidence is mixed. This may be explained by the use of cross-sectional designs and non-personally relevant stressors. Using a randomized controlled trial, we hypothesized that a 20-week aerobic exercise training does reduce physiological stress responses to psychological real-life stressors in sedentary students. METHODS Sixty-one students were randomized to either a control group or an exercise training group. The academic examination period (end of the semester) served as a real-life stressor. We used ambulatory assessment methods to assess physiological stress reactivity of the autonomic nervous system (heart rate variability: LF/HF, RMSSD), physical activity and perceived stress during 2 days of everyday life and multilevel models for data analyses. Aerobic capacity (VO2max) was assessed pre- and post-intervention via cardiopulmonary exercise testing to analyze the effectiveness of the intervention. RESULTS During real-life stressors, the exercise training group showed significantly reduced LF/HF (β = -0.15, t = -2.59, p = .01) and increased RMSSD (β = 0.15, t = 2.34, p = .02) compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS Using a randomized controlled trial and a real-life stressor, we could show that exercise appears to be a useful preventive strategy to buffer the effects of stress on the autonomic nervous system, which might result into detrimental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birte von Haaren
- Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engler-Bunte-Ring 15, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany.
| | | | | | - Rainer Neumann
- Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engler-Bunte-Ring 15, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Klaus Boes
- Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engler-Bunte-Ring 15, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Ulrich Ebner-Priemer
- Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engler-Bunte-Ring 15, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
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Platzer HP, Raschner C, Patterson C, Lembert S. Comparison of physical characteristics and performance among elite snowboarders. J Strength Cond Res 2009; 23:1427-32. [PMID: 19620923 DOI: 10.1519/jsc.0b013e3181aa1d9f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
There are little scientific data regarding snowboarding and the physiological demands on snowboarders. The aim of this study was to assemble and evaluate a battery of tests for the snowboard disciplines parallel, snowboard cross (SBX), big air, and half-pipe (HP). Thirty-seven competitive snowboarders participated in the study and completed a test battery that comprised tests for aerobic capacity, balance, jumping, isokinetic core power, isokinetic leg power, isometric bench press, isometric bench pull, and a snowboard start simulator. The results showed that the battery of tests explained between 61 and 98% of variance when predicting snowboard performance. The test battery predicts better for women than for men and better for SBX, HP, and overall World Cup ranking than for the other disciplines. The results indicate that starting speed, leg power, core power, and aerobic capacity are important in different snowboarding events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Peter Platzer
- Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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Benitez-Sillero JDD, Perez-Navero JL, Tasset I, Guillen-Del Castillo M, Gil-Campos M, Tunez I. Influence of intense exercise on saliva glutathione in prepubescent and pubescent boys. Eur J Appl Physiol 2009; 106:181-6. [PMID: 19224242 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-009-1004-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/27/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan de Dios Benitez-Sillero
- Department of Corporal Expression, Faculty of Education, University of Cordoba (Spain), Avd/San Alberto Magno s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain
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Kenny GP, Yardley JE, Martineau L, Jay O. Physical work capacity in older adults: implications for the aging worker. Am J Ind Med 2008; 51:610-25. [PMID: 18543279 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.20600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In many developed countries, the workforce is rapidly aging. Occupational demands however, have not decreased despite the fact that workers see a decline in physical work capacity with age. The purpose of this review is to examine the physiological adaptations to aging, the impact of aging on performance and the benefits of physical fitness in improving functional work capacity in aging individuals. METHODS An extensive search of the scientific literature was performed, acquiring published articles which examined the physiological changes associated with age-related decrements in the physical work capacity of healthy aging adults. The databases accessed included AARP Ageline, AccessScience, Annual Reviews, CISTI, Cochrane Library, Clinical Evidence, Digital Dissertations (Proquest), Embase, HealthSTAR, Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and PASCAL and included relevant information sites obtained on the world wide web. RESULTS While a great deal of variation exists, an average decline of 20% in physical work capacity has been reported between the ages of 40 and 60 years, due to decreases in aerobic and musculoskeletal capacity. These declines can contribute to decreased work capacity, and consequential increases in work-related injuries and illness. However, differences in habitual physical activity will greatly influence the variability seen in individual physical work capacity and its components. Well-organized, management-supported, work-site health interventions encouraging physical activity during work hours could potentially decrease the incidence of age-related injury and illness. CONCLUSIONS Age-associated functional declines and the accompanying risk of work-related injury can be prevented or at least delayed by the practice of regular physical activity. Older workers could optimally pursue their careers until retirement if they continuously maintain their physical training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glen P Kenny
- Center for Human and Environmental Physiology Research, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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Jäger R, Purpura M, Geiss KR, Weiß M, Baumeister J, Amatulli F, Schröder L, Herwegen H. The effect of phosphatidylserine on golf performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2007; 4:23. [PMID: 18053194 PMCID: PMC2217563 DOI: 10.1186/1550-2783-4-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2007] [Accepted: 12/04/2007] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed to evaluate the effect of oral phosphatidylserine (PS) supplementation on golf performance in healthy young golfers with handicaps of 15–40. Methods Perceived stress, heart rate and the quality of the ball flight was evaluated before (pre-test) and after (post-test) 42 days of 200 mg per day PS (n = 10) or placebo (n = 10) intake in the form of a nutritional bar. Subjects teed-off 20 times aiming at a green 135 meters from the tee area. Results PS supplementation significantly increased (p < 0.05) the number of good ball flights (mean: pre-test 8.3 ± 3.5, post-test 10.1 ± 3.0), whereas placebo intake (mean: pre-test 7.8 ± 2.4, post-test 7.9 ± 3.6) had no effect. PS supplementation showed a trend towards improving perceived stress levels during teeing-off (mean: pre-test 5.8 ± 2.0, post-test 4.0 ± 2.0, p = 0.07), whereas stress levels remained unchanged in the placebo group (mean: pre-test: 5.1 ± 2.0, post-test: 5.1 ± 3.1). Supplementation did not influence mean heart rate in either group. Conclusion It is concluded that six weeks of PS supplementation shows a statistically not significant tendency (p = 0.07) to improve perceived stress levels in golfers and significantly improves (p < 0.05) the number of good ball flights during tee-off which might result in improved golf scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Jäger
- Increnovo LLC, 2138 E Lafayette Pl, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA.
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