Effects of an 8-Week Outdoor Brisk Walking Program on Fatigue in Hi-Tech Industry Employees: A Randomized Control Trial

Workplace Health Saf. 2015 Oct;63(10):436-45. doi: 10.1177/2165079915589685. Epub 2015 Jul 20.

Abstract

Over 73% of hi-tech industry employees in Taiwan lack regular exercise. They are exposed to a highly variable and stressful work environment for extended periods of time, and may subsequently experience depression, detrimental to workers' physiological and mental health. In this cross-sectional survey, the authors explored the effect of an 8-week brisk walking program on the fatigue of employees in the hi-tech industry. The participants, from a hi-tech company in northern Taiwan, were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG; 41 subjects, Mage = 33.34 ± 6.40) or control group (CG; 45 subjects, Mage = 29.40 ± 3.60). Following the 8-week brisk walking program, the EG showed significantly lower scores for subjective fatigue, working motivation, attention, and overall fatigue. The authors confirmed that the 8-week outdoor brisk walking program significantly improved the level of fatigue among employees of the hi-tech industry. The finding serves as an important reference for health authorities in Taiwan and provides awareness of workplace health promotion in the hi-tech industry.

Keywords: brisk walking; employees; fatigue; health promotion; hi-tech industry.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Exercise / physiology
  • Fatigue / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Health Promotion / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Industry*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Program Evaluation
  • Quality of Life
  • Taiwan
  • Time Factors
  • Walking / physiology*