In the quest to reduce workplace musculoskeletal pain, a recent study from Kiel University has shed light on the effectiveness of brief walks versus office yoga sessions. The research, published in Occupational Health Science, explored low-threshold workplace health interventions and found that walking during the workday significantly reduced pain more effectively than office yoga.
Study Overview
The study, titled “Effects of Office-Yoga and Walking at the Workplace to Improve Health and Wellbeing: A Longitudinal Randomized Controlled Trial,” was conducted by researchers Alexander Nath, Sophia Schimmelpfennig, and Udo Konradt from Kiel University’s Institute of Psychology. It demonstrated that while both walking and yoga decreased pain prevalence, walking was superior in reducing pain intensity among sedentary workers who typically spend up to three-quarters of their workday engaged in low-activity behavior.
Key Findings
Lead researcher Alexander Nath noted, “Walking showed a program-based superiority over office yoga, indicating that the mind component inherent to yoga practice did not provide an additional benefit regarding the reduction of perceived musculoskeletal pain.”
The research team conducted a three-month randomized controlled trial with 459 office workers from five German organizations. Using Bayesian structural equation modeling, they compared outcomes between three groups: walking intervention, office yoga intervention, and a control group. Participants in the intervention groups performed their assigned activity for 10-15 minutes daily during work hours, with weekly assessments tracking their progress.
Intervention Details
Before starting the interventions, participants received detailed information about their assigned activities. The office yoga group accessed weekly video tutorials featuring progressively challenging exercises, while the walking group was instructed to conduct their walks outdoors. A control group maintained their usual workplace routines.
Results
Statistical analysis revealed small but significant effects for both interventions in reducing musculoskeletal complaints. The walking group showed a measurable advantage in decreasing pain intensity, while both interventions demonstrated positive trends in reducing pain prevalence over the three-month period.
Location and Effectiveness
Location emerged as a crucial factor in the interventions’ effectiveness. The researchers explained, “While the walking intervention took place outside of the workplace environment, the office yoga sessions were conducted within the direct environment of the workplace. This distinction may have inhibited the office yoga participants’ ability to mentally disengage from work-related stressors.”
Implications for Workplace Health Programs
The findings hold particular relevance for workplace health programs. “Both office-yoga and walking can be valuable and cost-efficient addendums to organizations’ occupational health management,” the researchers said.
For organizations considering physical activity initiatives, walking programs presented distinct advantages in terms of implementation and accessibility. The study demonstrated that even short walking sessions produced measurable benefits for musculoskeletal health, with effects remaining consistent throughout the intervention period.
Conclusion
“Despite the aforementioned, we do not advise against office yoga at the workplace either, since we found no indication of adverse effects of office yoga. Although the lack of comparative effectiveness over walking, office-yoga can be a useful means for organizations to promote employees’ health when other forms of physical activities such as walking are not applicable,” the researchers concluded.
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