Acute cardiometabolic effects of brief active breaks in sitting for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Exercise is a treatment in rheumatoid arthritis, but participation in moderate-to-vigorous exercise is challenging for some patients. Light-intensity breaks in sitting could be a promising alternative. We compared the acute effects of active breaks in sitting with those of moderate-to-vigorous exercise on cardiometabolic risk markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In a crossover fashion, 15 women with rheumatoid arthritis underwent three 8-h experimental conditions: prolonged sitting (SIT), 30-min bout of moderate-to-vigorous exercise followed by prolonged sitting (EX), and 3-min bouts of light-intensity walking every 30 min of sitting (BR). Postprandial glucose, insulin, c-peptide, triglycerides, cytokines, lipid classes/subclasses (lipidomics), and blood pressure responses were assessed. Muscle biopsies were collected following each session to assess targeted proteins/genes. Glucose [-28% in area under the curve (AUC), P = 0.036], insulin (-28% in AUC, P = 0.016), and c-peptide (-27% in AUC, P = 0.006) postprandial responses were attenuated in BR versus SIT, whereas only c-peptide was lower in EX versus SIT (-20% in AUC, P = 0.002). IL-1ß decreased during BR, but increased during EX and SIT (P = 0.027 and P = 0.085, respectively). IL-1ra was increased during EX versus BR (P = 0.002). TNF-α concentrations decreased during BR versus EX (P = 0.022). EX, but not BR, reduced systolic blood pressure (P = 0.013). Lipidomic analysis showed that 7 of 36 lipid classes/subclasses were significantly different between conditions, with greater changes being observed in EX. No differences were observed for protein/gene expression. Brief active breaks in sitting can offset markers of cardiometabolic disturbance, which may be particularly useful for patients who may find it difficult to adhere to exercise.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Exercise is a treatment in rheumatoid arthritis but is challenging for some patients. Light-intensity breaks in sitting could be a promising alternative. Our findings show beneficial, but differential, cardiometabolic effects of active breaks in sitting and exercise in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Breaks in sitting mainly improved glycemic and inflammatory markers, whereas exercise improved lipidomic and hypotensive responses. Breaks in sitting show promise in offsetting aspects of cardiometabolic disturbance associated with prolonged sitting in rheumatoid arthritis.

Pausa activa como factor de cambio en actividad física en funcionarios públicos / Active break as a changing factor in the physical activity of public officials

Introducción El aumento de la actividad física es uno de los componentes más importantes de un estilo de vida saludable vinculándose a beneficios físicos y mentales. La inactividad física aumenta la frecuencia y la duración de las incapacidades laborales lo cual presupone implicaciones desfavorables para el trabajador, para la empresa y para la sociedad. Objetivo Configurar el desempeño diferenciado del nivel de actividad física por unidad de trabajo pre y posintervención con pausas activas en funcionarios públicos en Chillán, Chile. Métodos Investigación descriptiva, exploratoria. Se aplicó el Cuestionario Internacional de Actividad Física formato corto, antes y después de la intervención con pausas activas en los mismos individuos, para medir el nivel de actividad física. Las pausas activas fueron de 15 minutos dos veces por semana, en el lugar de trabajo y se apoyaron en estrategias comunicacionales para fomentar la actividad física. Resultados Los datos revelaron que hubo una diferencia significativa después de la intervención, ya que aumenta el nivel de actividad física (t=-1,391) con el 95 % de nivel de confianza. Conclusiones Las pausas activas aumentan el nivel de actividad física de los usuarios, se establece un desempeño diferenciado pre y posintervención, y no se establece relación de dicho desempeño por unidad de trabajo.

Introduction The increased physical activity is one of the most important elements of a healthy lifestyle that renders physical and mental benefits. Lack of physical activity increases frequency and duration of working disabilities leading to unfavourable implications for the worker, the company and the society as a whole. Objective To shape the differentiated performance of the level of physical activity per working unit in the public officials from Chillán, Chile before and after the intervention with active breaks. Methods Exploratory descriptive intervention. The short version of the International Questionnaire of Physical Activity was applied before and after the intervention with active pauses to the same individuals, in order to measure the level of physical activity. The active pauses took 15 minutes twice a week at the workplace, and they were based on communication strategies to promote physical activity. Results Data yielded that there is significant difference after the intervention, since the level of physical activity increases (t=-1,391), with 95% CI. Conclusions The active breaks increase the level of physical activity of the users; differentiated performance before and after intervention is established and the association of such performance per working unit is not stated.