Impact of Physical Exercise at a Hospital

Aims and Hypotheses Aims * to investigate associations between an intelligent exercise training intervention and clinical health parameters, well-being, sick leave and productivity at Nordsjællands Hospital (NOH) * to generate data and experiences to a larger cluster randomized trial with more included departments at NOH * to analyze how the intervention could be successfully implemented in the organization to ensure long-term effects Outcomes * Aerobic capacity (Åstrand's ergometer test) * Blood pressure and heart rate * Physical activity (steps measured by tracker) * Self-reported health (questionnaire EQ-5D) * Self-reported physical activity (questionnaire IPAQ) * Well-being (questions from the Danish Health and Morbidity Survey) * Musculoskeletal pain and use of anti-pain medications (Numeric Rating Scale) * Monetized value of productivity loss * Productivity using an employer´s perspective (scale 1-10) * Sick leave (days in short term (≤14 days) and long term (\>14 days), data will be delivered by The Department of HR) * Muscle strength in knee extension (dynamometer) Intervention The concept of intelligent training at the worksite is an individualized exercise training where the exercises are: 1) balanced to the physiological capacity of the employees relative to their occupational exposure, 2) tailored to the individual capacities and disorders to improve employees' health, 3) motivating by offering evidence based and enjoyable programs implemented with care, and 4) cost-effective for the company. The intervention period is 20 weeks of intelligent exercise training. Every week, several exercise sessions will be offered to the participants in the intervention group during the working hours. The exercise sessions will be of 30 min durations twice a week and include aerobic exercise with high intensity (≥16 on the Borg scale, rate of perceived exhaustion), resistance training and/or functional training. In addition, there will be a number of intelligent exercise sessions of 30 min durations before and after the most common working hours with a primary focus on aerobic exercise. The exercise sessions will be supervised by exercise experts (education in sport or physiotherapy). The intelligent exercise interventions will be adjusted to the individual participant's physical capacity and limitations; thus, as one participant may perform aerobic exercise, another person may perform resistance training.