Computer app tells you when to take a break
A computer app prompting desk workers to take breaks from sitting led to significant and lasting reductions in blood pressure, reports a trial in the September issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
“An e-health solution designed to increase non-exercise physical activity by interrupting sitting time in the workplace is feasible and produced long-term reductions in blood pressure,” a researcher reported.
The study evaluated a software application called Exertime, which encourages office workers to take breaks from sitting for non-exercise physical activity. At scheduled intervals, the app presented workers with scheduled “movement break” screens. The break screens could be postponed, but once they appeared, workers had to click through each screen before they could resume working on their computer.
The study evaluated changes in blood pressure in 228 desk-based employees who used the app for one year. The results showed “clinically meaningful” reductions in blood pressure, beginning within three months and continuing through nine to 12 months.
Larger reductions were seen in workers who had high blood pressure as the study began.
