Comparison of physical activity, fatigue, and dynamic balance levels of health workers according to their working positions1

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Many studies have evaluated physical activity and fatigue. However, a causal relationship between physical activity, fatigue and balance in healthcare workers has not been established. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the activity levels, fatigue, and dynamic balance of health workers who work actively or in a desk job in many different units in the hospital. METHODS: 72 Health workers from two different groups participated in the study, 37 were active workers (AW), and 35 were desk workers (DW) at the Diyarbakir Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital. Participants were given a Sociodemographic Information Form, an International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and a 30-s Chair Stand Test (30-s CST) with a Modified Borg Scale (MBS) before starting work in the morning and at the end of work. RESULTS: 69.4% of the study participants were female, and 54.2% were between 20 and 30 years old. It was found that the values of moderate physical activity, walking, and total physical activity were significantly higher in active workers than desk workers (p = 0.000). There was no statistically significant difference between the means of work start and after work fatigue of both groups (p > 0.05). A statistically significant difference was found when the starting and finishing work values of the dynamic balance tests of the groups were compared (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: It was found that the level of physical activity and dynamic balance of individuals working at desk jobs was significantly lower than that of the active group.