A 10-WEEK ACTIVE BREAKS PROGRAM PROPOSAL TO IMPROVE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS, PHYSICAL FITNESS AND REDUCE SEDENTARY BEHAVIOURS IN THE ADULT ACADEMIC EMPLOYEES

Purpose: University employees spend most of the day on the work- place and exhibit sedentary behaviours also beyond the working time, which is linked to health issues. Active breaks (ABs) are short interruptions in the academic setting where PA is performed. Recently, ABs have gained prominence in the scientific literature, especially among university students. However, ABs are not widely explored across the adult academic employee’s population, leaving gaps in the understanding of their effectiveness. To assess if a 10-week ABs program can increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), physical fitness, improve quality of life, work ability and decrease sedentary behaviours in employees of an aca- demic community. Methods: Participants will be assigned to either an experimental group (n = 10), which will participate in the ABs program, or a control group (n = 10). Physical activity levels through wearable activity tracker (MVPA and daily steps), physical fitness (upper limb grip strength, lower limb strength, lower back and hamstrings flexi- bility, cardiorespiratory fitness), quality of life (36-Item Short Form Health Survey—SF36), work ability (Work Ability Index—WAI) and sedentary behaviors (Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire—SBQ) will be assessed before (t0) and after (t1) the intervention. The 10-week ABs program will consist of a 10-min outdoor supervised walk and a 10-min combined strength and mobility short session on 4 times/ week, plus a 60-min mobility session on a separate day. Expected results: A tendency to an increase in MVPA, PF, quality of life, work ability and a decrease in sedentary behaviours are expected at t1 after 10 weeks of ABs program. The results of this research could guide universities toward creating active workplaces and mobility systems to support employees’ well-being, healthier lifestyles and to prevent non-communicable diseases.