BE@Work: Brief Exercise at Work

Chester step test. This involves stepping onto and off a box at a height relevant to the participants age and usual physical activity level, at a set pace for a maximum of 10 minutes or until the participants heart rate reaches ≥80% of age-predicted maximum, whichever is first. Second-to-second heart rate (HR) will be monitored using a wrist worn heart rate monitor (Polar A360, Polar Electro Oy, Finland).

If the participant chooses, they can also have their aerobic fitness measured using a ramp test. This will involve attending the Exercise Physiology Laboratory at Teesside University. Peak oxygen uptake will be measured by a ramp test on an electromechanically braked cycle ergometer (Lode Excalibure, Groningen, Netherlands). Participants will perform 5 minutes of submaximal exercise as a standard warm-up. Beginning with no load, power output will increase by 30 Watts (W) per minute until volitional exhaustion or the subject can no longer maintain a pedal cadence of 70-90 revolutions per minute. Expired gas will be collected and analysed throughout (Zan 600 USB CPX, nSpire Health Inc., United Kingdom), with peak oxygen uptake defined as the peak value of a 5-point average data set).

Hand grip strength will be measured using a hand dynamometer. The participant will stand with arms at their side, not touching their body holding the dynamometer in their non-dominant hand. The participant will be asked to squeeze the dynamometer with as much force as possible.

Leg extensor power will be assessed using the Nottingham leg extensor power rig, (Medical Engineering Unit, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK). The participant is seated in an adjustable seat and presses a foot pedal until the leg is extended. This petal accelerates a flywheel, and it is this average power in watts that is measured.

Resting blood pressure will be measured using an electronic blood pressure monitor (Omron, M6 AC ME, Omron Healthcare, Kyoto, Japan).

Blood lipids will be assessed from a finger prick blood sample using the Cholestech LDX analyser (Cholestech Corporation, Hayward, CA, USA). The LDX analyser is currently used for the National Health Service Health Checks. Standard aspectic techniques will be used. A small puncture will be made in the middle finger using a one piece single use finger stick. The sample will be drawn into a 35 μL capillary tube and immediately transferred into a cassette sample well. The cassette will then be placed into the device drawer for analysis.

Body mass index will be calculated using the standard formula in units of kg/m2. Measurements of height and body mass will be taken using a standard scale and stadiometer.

Health related quality of life will be measured using a validated self-report paper based questionnaire (SF-36) (RAND, 2016). High scores mean higher quality of life.

Mental wellbeing will be assessed using a validated self-report paper based questionnaire (Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale) (Tennant et al., 2007). The total score is obtained by summing the score for each of the 14items. Total scores range from 14-70, higher scales indicate higher mental wellbeing.

Stress will be measured using a validated self-report paper based questionnaire (Perceived Stress Scale) (Cohen & Williamson, 1988). Scores ranging from 0-13, 14-26 and 27-40 would be considered low, medium and high perceived stress, respectively.

Fasting blood glucose (mmol/L) will be assessed from a finger prick blood sample using the Cholestech LDX analyser (Cholestech Corporation, Hayward, CA, USA). The LDX analyser is currently used for the National Health Service Health Checks. Standard aspectic techniques will be used. A small puncture will be made in the middle finger using a one piece single use finger stick. The sample will be drawn into a 35 μL capillary tube and immediately transferred into a cassette sample well. The cassette will then be placed into the device drawer for analysis.

Waist and hip circumference will be measured using non-elastic Gulick tape measure (G-tape) at the narrowest point of the waist and broadest part of the hip.

Measurement of habitual physical activity over a 7 day period will be assessed using a Uniaxial Actigraph accelorometer (GT1M model, Actigraph, LLC, Pensacola, Florida). The participant will wear a small hip mounted accelerometer to assess their habitual physical activity for 7 days following their baseline data collection.