Feasibility and Effects of Exercise During Working Hours in Acute Hospital Staff - A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial

S G Nielsen; M Pedersen; J U Toftager-Oster; C A Saervoll; T K Fischer; B Lindegaard; S Molsted

doi:10.1007/s10926-025-10275-6

Feasibility and Effects of Exercise During Working Hours in Acute Hospital Staff - A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial

S G Nielsen^*, M Pedersen, J U Toftager-Oster, C A Saervoll, T K Fischer, B Lindegaard, S Molsted

^*Corresponding author for this work

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

PURPOSE: Workplace health interventions with exercise have positive effects on musculoskeletal pain and well-being at work, however, effectiveness is questioned due to low adherence. In hospitals participation is challenged by shiftwork and unpredictable workload. Our aim was to investigate the feasibility of exercise during working hours in an acute hospital, herein to estimate the health impact to guide management decisions on implementation.

METHODS: A clinical trial in a public hospital, offering staff supervised group-based individualized exercise with combined aerobic and strength training during working hours twice weekly for 20 weeks. Delivery, acceptance, and adherence were investigated. Subjective outcomes were social capital, well-being, quality of life, and musculoskeletal pain were assessed. Objective outcomes were blood pressure, body composition, and cardiorespiratory fitness.

RESULTS: Twenty-three percent of the employees (n = 617) accepted participation (92% female, median age was 50 years, 38% nurses). Adherence was 29% with no difference between employees with clinical versus non-clinical functions. Non-clinicians participated during working hours, while clinicians participated outside of working hours in 50% (IQR 5-87) of the sessions. Positive changes were seen in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (decreased 2.0 [0.9; 2.2] and 0.9 [0.1; 1.7] mmHG, respectively), aerobic capacity 2.3 ml/O2/min/kg [1.7; 2.9], and in waist-hip ratio, social capital, well-being, quality of life, and musculoskeletal pain.

CONCLUSION: Exercise during working hours in an acute hospital staff was feasible, but strategies to increase acceptance and adherence are necessary for a successful implementation. Despite low adherence, the intervention was associated with improvements of physical and mental health.

REGISTRATION: The study protocol has been uploaded on www.

CLINICALTRIALS: gov (NCT04988724).

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
Volume	36
Issue number	2
Pages (from-to)	407-415
Number of pages	9
ISSN	1053-0487
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-025-10275-6
Publication status	Published - Jun 2026

Keywords

Exercise
Feasibility Studies
Health promotion
Hospital personnel
Resistance training
Workplace

Access to Document

10.1007/s10926-025-10275-6Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{2535c446fd1a408ea908d30de6d59565,

title = "Feasibility and Effects of Exercise During Working Hours in Acute Hospital Staff - A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial",

abstract = "PURPOSE: Workplace health interventions with exercise have positive effects on musculoskeletal pain and well-being at work, however, effectiveness is questioned due to low adherence. In hospitals participation is challenged by shiftwork and unpredictable workload. Our aim was to investigate the feasibility of exercise during working hours in an acute hospital, herein to estimate the health impact to guide management decisions on implementation.METHODS: A clinical trial in a public hospital, offering staff supervised group-based individualized exercise with combined aerobic and strength training during working hours twice weekly for 20 weeks. Delivery, acceptance, and adherence were investigated. Subjective outcomes were social capital, well-being, quality of life, and musculoskeletal pain were assessed. Objective outcomes were blood pressure, body composition, and cardiorespiratory fitness.RESULTS: Twenty-three percent of the employees (n = 617) accepted participation (92\% female, median age was 50 years, 38\% nurses). Adherence was 29\% with no difference between employees with clinical versus non-clinical functions. Non-clinicians participated during working hours, while clinicians participated outside of working hours in 50\% (IQR 5-87) of the sessions. Positive changes were seen in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (decreased 2.0 [0.9; 2.2] and 0.9 [0.1; 1.7] mmHG, respectively), aerobic capacity 2.3 ml/O2/min/kg [1.7; 2.9], and in waist-hip ratio, social capital, well-being, quality of life, and musculoskeletal pain.CONCLUSION: Exercise during working hours in an acute hospital staff was feasible, but strategies to increase acceptance and adherence are necessary for a successful implementation. Despite low adherence, the intervention was associated with improvements of physical and mental health.REGISTRATION: The study protocol has been uploaded on www.CLINICALTRIALS: gov (NCT04988724).",

keywords = "Exercise, Feasibility Studies, Health promotion, Hospital personnel, Resistance training, Workplace",

author = "Nielsen, \{S G\} and M Pedersen and Toftager-Oster, \{J U\} and Saervoll, \{C A\} and Fischer, \{T K\} and B Lindegaard and S Molsted",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2025. The Author(s).",

year = "2026",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1007/s10926-025-10275-6",

language = "English",

volume = "36",

pages = "407--415",

journal = "Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation",

issn = "1053-0487",

publisher = "Springer New York",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Feasibility and Effects of Exercise During Working Hours in Acute Hospital Staff - A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial

AU - Nielsen, S G

AU - Pedersen, M

AU - Toftager-Oster, J U

AU - Saervoll, C A

AU - Fischer, T K

AU - Lindegaard, B

AU - Molsted, S

PY - 2026/6

Y1 - 2026/6

N2 - PURPOSE: Workplace health interventions with exercise have positive effects on musculoskeletal pain and well-being at work, however, effectiveness is questioned due to low adherence. In hospitals participation is challenged by shiftwork and unpredictable workload. Our aim was to investigate the feasibility of exercise during working hours in an acute hospital, herein to estimate the health impact to guide management decisions on implementation.METHODS: A clinical trial in a public hospital, offering staff supervised group-based individualized exercise with combined aerobic and strength training during working hours twice weekly for 20 weeks. Delivery, acceptance, and adherence were investigated. Subjective outcomes were social capital, well-being, quality of life, and musculoskeletal pain were assessed. Objective outcomes were blood pressure, body composition, and cardiorespiratory fitness.RESULTS: Twenty-three percent of the employees (n = 617) accepted participation (92% female, median age was 50 years, 38% nurses). Adherence was 29% with no difference between employees with clinical versus non-clinical functions. Non-clinicians participated during working hours, while clinicians participated outside of working hours in 50% (IQR 5-87) of the sessions. Positive changes were seen in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (decreased 2.0 [0.9; 2.2] and 0.9 [0.1; 1.7] mmHG, respectively), aerobic capacity 2.3 ml/O2/min/kg [1.7; 2.9], and in waist-hip ratio, social capital, well-being, quality of life, and musculoskeletal pain.CONCLUSION: Exercise during working hours in an acute hospital staff was feasible, but strategies to increase acceptance and adherence are necessary for a successful implementation. Despite low adherence, the intervention was associated with improvements of physical and mental health.REGISTRATION: The study protocol has been uploaded on www.CLINICALTRIALS: gov (NCT04988724).

AB - PURPOSE: Workplace health interventions with exercise have positive effects on musculoskeletal pain and well-being at work, however, effectiveness is questioned due to low adherence. In hospitals participation is challenged by shiftwork and unpredictable workload. Our aim was to investigate the feasibility of exercise during working hours in an acute hospital, herein to estimate the health impact to guide management decisions on implementation.METHODS: A clinical trial in a public hospital, offering staff supervised group-based individualized exercise with combined aerobic and strength training during working hours twice weekly for 20 weeks. Delivery, acceptance, and adherence were investigated. Subjective outcomes were social capital, well-being, quality of life, and musculoskeletal pain were assessed. Objective outcomes were blood pressure, body composition, and cardiorespiratory fitness.RESULTS: Twenty-three percent of the employees (n = 617) accepted participation (92% female, median age was 50 years, 38% nurses). Adherence was 29% with no difference between employees with clinical versus non-clinical functions. Non-clinicians participated during working hours, while clinicians participated outside of working hours in 50% (IQR 5-87) of the sessions. Positive changes were seen in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (decreased 2.0 [0.9; 2.2] and 0.9 [0.1; 1.7] mmHG, respectively), aerobic capacity 2.3 ml/O2/min/kg [1.7; 2.9], and in waist-hip ratio, social capital, well-being, quality of life, and musculoskeletal pain.CONCLUSION: Exercise during working hours in an acute hospital staff was feasible, but strategies to increase acceptance and adherence are necessary for a successful implementation. Despite low adherence, the intervention was associated with improvements of physical and mental health.REGISTRATION: The study protocol has been uploaded on www.CLINICALTRIALS: gov (NCT04988724).

KW - Exercise

KW - Feasibility Studies

KW - Health promotion

KW - Hospital personnel

KW - Resistance training

KW - Workplace

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85217894686

U2 - 10.1007/s10926-025-10275-6

DO - 10.1007/s10926-025-10275-6

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 39966325

SN - 1053-0487

VL - 36

SP - 407

EP - 415

JO - Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation

JF - Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation

IS - 2

ER -

Feasibility and Effects of Exercise During Working Hours in Acute Hospital Staff - A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this