Activity behaviors of university staff in the workplace : A pilot study
- Authors: Bird, Marie-Louise , Shing, Cecilia , Mainsbridge, Casey , Cooley, Dean , Pedersen, Scott
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Physical Activity and Health Vol. 12, no. 8 (2015), p. 1128-1132
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Sedentary behavior is related to metabolic syndrome and might have implications for the long-term health of workers in a low activity environment. The primary aim of this pilot study was to determine activity levels of adults working at a University during work hours. A secondary aim was to determine the relationship between actual and perceived activity levels. Methods: Activity levels of university staff (n = 15, male = 7, age = 53 ± 7 years, BMI = 26.5 ± 2.5kg•m2) were monitored over 5 consecutive workdays using SenseWear accelerometers, then participants completed a questionnaire of their perception of workplace sedentary time. Results: Each participant spent 71.5 ± 13.1% (358 ± 78 min) of their workday being sedentary (< 1.5 METs), 15.6 ± 9.0% involved in light activity (1.5-3 METs), 11.7 ± 10.0% in moderate activity (3-5 METs), and 1.1 ± 1.3% in vigorous activity (> 5 METs) (P <.0001). The mean difference between actual (SenseWear < 1.5 METs) and perceived sitting time was-2 ± 32%; however, perceived sedentary time was reported with a range of under-to-over estimation of-75% to 51%. Conclusion: This pilot study identifies long periods of low metabolic activity during the workday and poor perception of individual sedentary time. Interventions to reduce sedentary time in the workplace may be necessary to ensure that the work environment does not adversely affect long-term health. © 2015 Human Kinetics, Inc.
We should know better – high rates of sedentary behaviours in a University workplace
- Authors: Bird, Marie-Louise , Shing, Cecilia , Cooley, Dean , Mainsbridge, Casey , Pedersen, Scott
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Australian Physiotherapy Association Conference, 17-20 October 2013, Melbourne, Australia
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
A comparison of the cycling performance of cyclists and triathletes
- Authors: Laursen, Paul , Shing, Cecilia , Tennant, S. C. , Prentice, C. M. , Jenkins, David
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Sports Sciences Vol. 21, no. 5 (May 2003), p. 411-418
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The aim of this study was to compare the cycling performance of cyclists and triathletes. Each week for 3 weeks, and on different days, 25 highly trained male cyclists and 18 highly trained male triathletes performed: (1) an incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer for the determination of peak oxygen consumption ((V) over dot O-2peak), peak power output and the first and second ventilatory thresholds, followed 15 min later by a sprint to volitional fatigue at 150% of peak power output; (2) a cycle to exhaustion test at the (V) over dot O-2peak power output; and (3) a 40-km cycle time-trial. There were no differences in (V) over dot O-2peak, peak power output, time to volitional fatigue at 150% of peak power output or time to exhaustion at (V) over dot O-2peak power output between the two groups. However, the cyclists had a significantly faster time to complete the 40-km time-trial (56:18 +/- 2:31 min:s; mean +/- s) than the triathletes (58:57 +/- 3:06 min:s; P < 0.01), which could be partially explained (r = 0.34-0.51; P < 0.05) by a significantly higher first (3.32 +/- 0.36 vs 3.08 +/- 0.36 l . min(-1)) and second ventilatory threshold (4.05 +/- 0.36 vs 3.81 +/- 0.29 l . min(-1); both P < 0.05) in the cyclists compared with the triathletes. In conclusion, cyclists may be able to perform better than triathletes in cycling time-trial events because they have higher first and second ventilatory thresholds.
- Description: C1
Reproducibility of a laboratory-based 40-km cycle time-trial on a stationary wind-trainer in highly trained cyclists
- Authors: Laursen, Paul , Shing, Cecilia , Jenkins, David
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 24, no. 7 (2003), p. 481-485
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The purpose of the present study was to examine the reproducibility of laboratory-based 40-km cycle time-trial performance on a stationary wind-trainer. Each week, for three consecutive weeks, and on different days, forty-three highly trained male cyclists (x̄ ± SD; age = 25 ± 6 y; mass = 75 ± 7 kg; peak oxygen uptake [V̇O 2peak] = 64.8 ± 5.2 ml x kg-1 x min-1) performed: 1) a V̇O2peak test, and 2) a 40-km time-trial on their own racing bicycle mounted to a stationary wind-trainer (Cateye - Cyclosimulator). Data from all tests were compared using a one-way analysis of variance. Performance on the second and third 40-km time-trials were highly related (r=0.96; p < 0.001), not significantly different (57:21 ± 2: 57 vs. 57:12 ± 3:14 min:s), and displayed a low coefficient of variation (CV)=0.9 ± 0.7%. Although the first 40-km time-trial (58:43 ± 3: 17 min:s) was not significantly different from the second and third tests (p = 0.06), inclusion of the first test in the assessment of reliability increased within-subject CV to 3.0 ± 2.9%. 40-km time-trial speed (km x h -1) was significantly (p < 0.001) related to peak power output (W; r = 0.75), V̇O2peak (1 x min-1; r = 0.53), and the second ventilatory turnpoint (1 x min-1; r = 0.68) measured during the progressive exercise tests. These data demonstrate that the assessment of 40-km cycle time-trial performance in well-trained endurance cyclists on a stationary wind-trainer is reproducible, provided the athletes perform a familiarization trial.
- Description: C1
Relationship between laboratory-measured variables and heart rate during an ultra-endurance triathlon
- Authors: Laursen, Paul , Knez, Wade , Shing, Cecilia , Langill, Robert , Rhodes, Edward , Jenkins, David
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Sports Sciences Vol. 23, no. 10 (2005), p. 1111-1120
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between the performance heart rate during an ultra-endurance triathlon and the heart rate corresponding to several demarcation points measured during laboratory-based progressive cycle ergometry and treadmill running. Less than one month before an ultra-endurance triathlon, 21 well-trained ultra-endurance triathletes (mean ± s: age 35 ± 6 years, height 1.77 ± 0.05 m, mass 74.0 ± 6.9 kg, V̇O2peak = 4.75 ± 0.42 l · min-1) performed progressive exercise tests of cycle ergometry and treadmill running for the determination of peak oxygen uptake (V̇O 2peak), heart rate corresponding to the first and second ventilatory thresholds, as well as the heart rate deflection point. Portable telemetry units recorded heart rate at 60 s increments throughout the ultra-endurance triathlon. Heart rate during the cycle and run phases of the ultra-endurance triathlon (148 ± 9 and 143 ± 13 beats · min-1 respectively) were significantly (P < 0.05) less than the second ventilatory thresholds (160 ± 13 and 165 ± 14 beats · min-1 respectively) and heart rate deflection points (170 ± 13 and 179 ± 9 beats · min-1 respectively). However, mean heart rate during the cycle and run phases of the ultra-endurance triathlon were significantly related to (r = 0.76 and 0.66; P < 0.01), and not significantly different from, the first ventilatory thresholds (146 ± 12 and 148 ± 15 beats · min-1 respectively). Furthermore, the difference between heart rate during the cycle phase of the ultra-endurance triathlon and heart rate at the first ventilatory threshold was related to marathon run time (r = 0.61; P < 0.01) and overall ultra-endurance triathlon time (r = 0.45; P < 0.05). The results suggest that triathletes perform the cycle and run phases of the ultra-endurance triathlon at an exercise intensity near their first ventilatory threshold. © 2005 Taylor & Francis.
- Description: C1