Low physical activity work-related and other risk factors increased the risk of poor physical fitness in cement workers.

Aim Low physical activity causes poor physical fitness, which leads to low productivity. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of low work-related physical activity and other risk factors on physical fitness. Methods This study was done in February 2008. Subjects were workers from 15 departments in PT Semen Padang, West Sumatera (Indonesia). Data on physical activities were collected using the questionnaire from the Student Field Work I Guidebook and Hypertension – Geriatric Integrated Program of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia 2003. Physical fi tness was measured using the Harvard Step Test. Results A number of 937 male workers aged 18 – 56 years participated in this study. Poor physical fitness was found in 15.9% of the subjects. Low work-related physical activity, smoking, lack of exercise, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and asthma were dominant risk factors related to poor physical fitness. Subjects with low compared to high work-related activity had a ten-fold risk of poor physical fitness [adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 10.71; 95% confi dence interval (CI) = 4.71–24.33]. In term of physical exercise, subjects who had no compared to those who had physical exercise had a six-fold risk of poor physical fitness (ORa = 6.30; 95%CI = 3.69-10.75). Conclussion Low work-related physical activities, smoking, lack of exercise, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and asthma were correlated to poor physical fitness. It is, among others, therefore necessary to implement exercises for workers with poor physical fitness.

Prevalence of Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm by laboratory exercise challenge among Ragunan Sport School athletes.

Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) is a common condition among adolescent athletes. There has been no study examining the prevalence of EIB among adolescent athletes in Indonesia. This study aimed to get the prevalence of EIB among Ragunan Sport School athletes by laboratory exercise challenge. Subjects performed static cycle ergometer exercise (Monark, Sweden) to reach minimal workload of 90% maximal heart rate. Force expiratory ventilation (FEV1) was examined by spirometry (Minato AS-PAL, Japan) at minute 0, 5, 10 and 20 post exercise. The EIB was defined as a decline of FEV1 as much as 10% or more from baseline value. Room temperature and humidity were 28°C-31°C and 74%-82% respectively. There were 168 athletes from 12 sport types who participated in this study. Among them, 23 athletes (13.7%) were EIB positive. The highest percentage of EIB was in taekwondo (54.5%). Sixteen athletes with EIB (70%) were from less asthmogenic sports. Athletes with EIB consisted of 17 (17.5%) females and 6 (8.4%) males. In conclusion, the prevalence of EIB among adolescent athletes was moderately high, and was more prevalent in female. More over, laboratory exercise challenge could elicit EIB in less asthmogenic sport.