Active break program: an evidence- based review for the promotion of occupational health

The objective of this study is to scientifically organize research on the impacts of short active breaks on employees’ physical and mental health, with the aim of proposing a model adapted to the Brazilian work environment. The narrative analysis is structured around five main themes: (1) types of exercises recommended in the workplace context; (2) evidence of cholesterol reduction and physiological benefits; (3) differentiation by age group and biotype; (4) effects on stress and mental health; and (5) additional benefits associated with outdoor physical activity. Clinical trials and longitudinal studies published between 2010 and 2024 were analyzed. Active breaks proved effective in lowering LDL, improving HDL, and controlling stress (variabilidade da frequência cardíaca and cortisol), relieving musculoskeletal pain, and increasing physical and emotional vitality. Activities performed outdoors intensified the positive psychophysiological effects. The findings highlight the feasibility of implementing short breaks, guided by specialists and tailored to employee profiles, as an ergonomic and preventive strategy, in accordance with Regulatory Standard No. 17 and the Occupational Health Medical Control Program. The regular adoption of active breaks is a low-cost, high- impact measure for promoting health in the workplace.

• Publication year

  2025

• Venue

  Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Trabalho

• Publication date

  2025-11-17

• Fields of study

  Medicine, Environmental Science

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.47626/1679-4435-2025-1488PMID 41573085PMCID 12823082
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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