Research is scarce on ways to enhance the effect of rest breaks during mentally demanding tasks. The present study investigated the effectiveness of two rest-break interventions on well-being during an academic lecture. Sixty-six students (53 females, mean age 22.5 years) enrolled in two different university classes of 4-hr duration participated in the study. Two measures of well-being (fatigue and vigor) were assessed immediately before, after, and 20 minutes after the break. A control condition without a break as well as an unstructured break was compared with breaks either encompassing physical activity or a relaxation exercise. Compared with the nonbreak condition, the unstructured rest break led to an increase in vigor, the exercise break as well as the relaxation break both to an increase in vigor and a decrease in fatigue at 20-min post break. Compared with the unstructured break, exercise led to an (additional) increase in vigor and relaxation to an (additional) decrease in fatigue at 20-min post break. Thus, the effects of rest breaks during mentally demanding tasks can be enhanced by engaging in physical activity or relaxation exercises, with effects lasting at least as long as 20 min into the continuation of the task.

ZusammenfassungDie Bedeutung einer bewussten Pausengestaltung und die Auswirkung auf die psychophysische Leistungsfähigkeit im Kontext der modernen Arbeitswelt ist noch wenig erforscht. Ermüdung durch geistige oder körperliche Tätigkeit kann als körperliches Warnsignal aufgefasst werden, um organischer Fehlbeanspruchung vorzubeugen. Um Ermüdung zu reduzieren, kommt der aktiven Pausengestaltung eine große Bedeutung zu. In der vorliegenden Studie wurden Studierende einer kognitiven Belastung (Vortrag) ausgesetzt – die durch 4 angeleitete Pausen (2 psychoregulative Pausen, 2 Bewegungspausen) in einem experimentellen Design unterbrochen wurde. Als Kontrollbedingung diente keine Pause. Die Ergebnisse der Studie zeigen die signifikant höhere Wirkung von Bewegungspausen im Vergleich zu psychoregulativen Pausen und keiner Pause bei kognitiven Belastungen. Zudem sind die angeleiteten Bewegungspausen signifikant „beliebter“ als die psychoregulativen Pausen. Die Ergebnisse weisen auf die steigende Bedeutung einer aktiven Pausengestaltung im Hochschulsetting bzw. Arbeitsumfeld zur Steigerung der Konzentrationsfähigkeit hin.

OBJECTIVE: Frequent computer use is associated with an increase in musculoskeletal complaints. The present study aims at comparing the relative efficacy of three novel interventions for the preventions of musculoskeletal complaints in frequent computer users. PARTICIPANTS: 93 employees (56 woman, 37 men, mean age 40.1 ± 8.8 years) with frequent computer use. METHODS: Participants were assigned on the basis of preference to one of the following interventions of 8 week duration: Nordic Walking (NW), biofeedback assisted relaxation and stretching (BFB), balance exercises on a wobble board (BAL) or a waiting list control group. Outcome measures were musculoskeletal complaints, emotional well-being, fatigue, job dissatisfaction as well as neuromuscular activity in the neck/shoulder region at rest and during computer work assessed before and after the intervention and at 3 months follow-up. RESULTS: The average number of training-units per week was 2.2 ± 0.8, 5.5 ± 3.5 and 4.1 ± 2.9 for NW, BFB and BAL, respectively. NW led to short and medium term improvement of musculoskeletal complaints, BFB to a short term improvement of musculoskeletal complaints. Effects on the well-being related variables or on neuromuscular activity were not found. BAL had no effect on the studied variables. CONCLUSION: NW and to a limited extent BFB are interventions potentially useful for reducing musculoskeletal complaints in frequent computer users.

Szabo, B., Gollner, E. & Schnabel, F. (2014). Topographic conditions and physical activity behaviour of young adults in Austria. J. Hum. Sport Exerc., 9(Proc1), pp.S210-S222. In Austria there is an east-west divide concerning the amount of physical activity that has been detected. This is associated with poorer health in the eastern region of Austria compared to the western. Experts think that differences in topographic conditions might be a reason for these differences. However this hypothesis until now has not been scientifically proven. This study incorporates a multi-staged approach. First, outdoor physical activity behaviour (levels of exercise, favourite activities etc.) among people aged between 18-35 and living in Burgenland (n=150), as well as levels of physical activity in general, were compared with those of people at the same age living in Tyrol (n=150), by using a semi-standardized quantitative online-survey. To determine if differences between these two groups were significant the chi-squared test was used. In addition satisfaction with opportunities for outdoor physical exercise, motives, barriers and wishes concerning design of green spaces were analysed. Finally experts, working in the field of physical activity promotion (n=9), discussed within a focus group how to implement results into practice. The hypothesis that topographic conditions have an influence on physical activity behaviour was confirmed. For example, people living in Tyrol are more likely to engage in mountain sports than those living in Burgenland, while Nordic Walking is more popular in Burgenland compared to Tyrol (P<0.05). The results also show that people living in Tyrol are more physically active in general (P<0.05) as well as do more outdoor sport than people living in Burgenland (P<0.05). In addition some barriers as well as need for action could be identified in both regions. The natural environment influences levels of physical activity as well as sport activities among local populations. However differences in topographic conditions are not like to be the only reason for east-west differences concerning levels and forms of physical activity. Expert recommendations need to be implemented in the future. Further research needs to be conducted to examine the role of other potential explanations for east-west differences.

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