Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26920441›Full record

Trial reportBMJ open2016

Acute effects of breaking up prolonged sitting on fatigue and cognition: a pilot study.

Patrik Wennberg, Carl-Johan Boraxbekk, Michael Wheeler, Bethany Howard, Paddy C Dempsey, Gavin Lambert, Nina Eikelis, Robyn Larsen, Parneet Sethi, Jessica Occleston and 4 more

2 registry-linked trialsAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMJ open, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 79 papers, 10 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
79citing papers in PubMed, 10 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT02927275 nacompletednot on this map

Cognition in Motion: Attitudes, Utilization, and Cognitive Impact of Low Intensity Exercise Among Medical Students

TypeinterventionalSponsorBaylor College of MedicineRan2012 to 2015Enrolled88ConditionsCognitive Performance During Physical ActivityArmsExperimental: Standing Modality, Experimental: Biking Modality, Experimental: Walking Modality, No Intervention: Seated Modality
NCT05212363 naterminatednot on this mapstarted 2021, after this paper: background citation

Lower Leg Compression vs. a Walking Break on Blood Flow in Extended Video Game Play: A Pilot Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorNew York Institute of TechnologyRan2021 to 2022Enrolled12ConditionsCompression, Vein, Compression, ArteryArmsLower extremity compression garments, Active break
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

79 citing papers in PubMed, 10 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  2. Effect of breaking up prolonged sitting with physical activity on executive function: a three-level meta-analysis.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2026
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19 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Patrik WennbergDepartment of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Carl-Johan BoraxbekkCEDAR, Center for Demographic and Aging Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Michael WheelerBaker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia School of Sport Science, Exercise & Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Bethany HowardBaker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Paddy C DempseyBaker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Gavin LambertBaker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Nina EikelisBaker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
Robyn LarsenBaker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
Parneet SethiBaker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
Jessica OcclestonBaker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
Jenny Hernestål-BomanDepartment of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Kathryn A EllisThe Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Neville OwenBaker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
David W DunstanBaker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia School of Sport Science, Exercise & Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia School of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo compare the acute effects of uninterrupted sitting with sitting interrupted by brief bouts of light-intensity walking on self-reported fatigue, cognition, neuroendocrine biomarkers and cardiometabolic risk markers in overweight/obese adults.

designRandomised two-condition crossover trial.

settingLaboratory study conducted in Melbourne, Australia.

participants19 overweight/obese adults (45-75 years).

interventionsAfter an initial 2 h period seated, participants consumed a meal-replacement beverage and completed (on 2 days separated by a 6-day washout period) each condition over the next 5 h: uninterrupted sitting (sedentary condition) or sitting with 3 min bouts of light-intensity walking every 30 min (active condition). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported fatigue, executive function and episodic memory at 0 h, 4 h and 7 h. SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Neuroendocrine biomarkers and cardiometabolic risk markers (blood collections at 0 h, 4 h and 7 h, blood pressure and heart rate measured hourly and interstitial glucose measured using a continuous glucose monitoring system).

resultsDuring the active condition, fatigue levels were lower at 4 h (-13.32 (95% CI -23.48 to -3.16)) and at 7 h (-10.73 (95% CI -20.89 to -0.58)) compared to the sedentary condition. Heart rate was higher at 4 h (4.47 (95% CI 8.37 to 0.58)) and at 7 h (4.32 (95% CI 8.21 to 0.42)) during the active condition compared to the sedentary condition. There were no significant differences between conditions by time for other variables. In the sedentary condition, changes in fatigue scores over time correlated with a decrease in heart rate and plasma dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and an increase in plasma dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG).

conclusionsInterrupting prolonged sitting with light-intensity walking breaks may be an effective fatigue countermeasure acutely. Fatigue levels corresponded with the heart rate and neuroendocrine biomarker changes in uninterrupted sitting in this pilot study. Further research is needed to identify potential implications, particularly for the occupational health context. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12613000137796; Results.

Indexed as

CognitionSedentary BehaviorWalkingAgedBlood GlucoseBlood PressureCross-Over StudiesDihydroxyphenylalanineFatigueFemaleHeart RateHumansMaleMethoxyhydroxyphenylglycolMiddle AgedObesity3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycolBlood GlucoseDihydroxyphenylalanineMethoxyhydroxyphenylglycolOCCUPATIONAL & INDUSTRIAL MEDICINEPREVENTIVE MEDICINESPORTS MEDICINE

Identifiers

PMID26920441
PMCPMC4769400

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.