On 2015 Jan 19, Martin Hofmeister commented:

With regard to the interesting study by Mazloumi et al. concerning work ability among employees in one of the Iranian petrochemical industries, allow me to add one aspect. As opposed to numerous findings by other research groups [1-4], exercise activity does not constitute a key factor affecting work ability in the Iranian study. However, the high values relating to exercise activity suggest that the employees’ subjective assessments may have to be considered unrealistic. Studies specifying a degree of criteria for exercise behaviour (in terms of frequency, scope and intensity) that can be expected to produce health benefits, describe considerably lower rates of exercise activity. This implies that a classification of physical exercise activity based on energy consumption can be considered more significant than single pieces of information on exercise activity [5]. Regarding future studies on work ability in Iran, it is thus worth considering whether subjective data on the exercise activity of individuals could be corroborated by objective testing techniques, such as sports motorics and accelerometer testing [6-8].

References

1 van den Berg TI, Elders LA, de Zwart BC, Burdorf A. The effects of work-related and individual factors on the Work Ability Index: a systematic review. Occup Environ Med. 2009;66(4):211-20. van den Berg TI, 2009

2 Airila A, Hakanen J, Punakallio A, Lusa S, Luukkonen R. Is work engagement related to work ability beyond working conditions and lifestyle factors? Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2012;85(8):915-25. Airila A, 2012

3 Kettunen O, Vuorimaa T, Vasankari T. 12-mo intervention of physical exercise improved work ability, especially in subjects with low baseline work ability. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014;11(4):3859-69.Kettunen O, 2014

4 Rutanen R, Luoto R, Raitanen J, Mansikkamäki K, Tomás E, Nygård CH. Short- and Long-term Effects of a Physical Exercise Intervention on Work Ability and Work Strain in Symptomatic Menopausal Women. Saf Health Work. 2014;5(4):186-90. Rutanen R, 2014

5 Macera CA, Ham SA, Jones DA, Kimsey CD, Ainsworth BE, Neff LJ. Limitations on the use of a single screening question to measure sedentary behavior. Am J Public Health. 2001;91(12):2010-2.Macera CA, 2001

6 Kaleta D, Makowiec-Dabrowska T, Jegier A. Leisure-time physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and work ability: a study in randomly selected residents of Lódź. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2004;17(4):457-64. Kaleta D, 2004

7 Sörensen L, Honkalehto S, Kallinen M, Pekkonen M, Louhevaara V, Smolander J, Alén M. Are cardiorespiratory fitness and walking performance associated with self-reported quality of life and work ability? Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2007;20(3):257-64. Sörensen L, 2007

8 Sörensen LE, Pekkonen MM, Männikkö KH, Louhevaara VA, Smolander J, Alén MJ. Associations between work ability, health-related quality of life, physical activity and fitness among middle-aged men. Appl Ergon. 2008;39(6):786-91. Sörensen LE, 2008

On 2015 Jan 19, Martin Hofmeister commented:

With regard to the interesting study by Mazloumi et al. concerning work ability among employees in one of the Iranian petrochemical industries, allow me to add one aspect. As opposed to numerous findings by other research groups [1-4], exercise activity does not constitute a key factor affecting work ability in the Iranian study. However, the high values relating to exercise activity suggest that the employees’ subjective assessments may have to be considered unrealistic. Studies specifying a degree of criteria for exercise behaviour (in terms of frequency, scope and intensity) that can be expected to produce health benefits, describe considerably lower rates of exercise activity. This implies that a classification of physical exercise activity based on energy consumption can be considered more significant than single pieces of information on exercise activity [5]. Regarding future studies on work ability in Iran, it is thus worth considering whether subjective data on the exercise activity of individuals could be corroborated by objective testing techniques, such as sports motorics and accelerometer testing [6-8].

References

1 van den Berg TI, Elders LA, de Zwart BC, Burdorf A. The effects of work-related and individual factors on the Work Ability Index: a systematic review. Occup Environ Med. 2009;66(4):211-20. van den Berg TI, 2009

2 Airila A, Hakanen J, Punakallio A, Lusa S, Luukkonen R. Is work engagement related to work ability beyond working conditions and lifestyle factors? Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2012;85(8):915-25. Airila A, 2012

3 Kettunen O, Vuorimaa T, Vasankari T. 12-mo intervention of physical exercise improved work ability, especially in subjects with low baseline work ability. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014;11(4):3859-69.Kettunen O, 2014

4 Rutanen R, Luoto R, Raitanen J, Mansikkamäki K, Tomás E, Nygård CH. Short- and Long-term Effects of a Physical Exercise Intervention on Work Ability and Work Strain in Symptomatic Menopausal Women. Saf Health Work. 2014;5(4):186-90. Rutanen R, 2014

5 Macera CA, Ham SA, Jones DA, Kimsey CD, Ainsworth BE, Neff LJ. Limitations on the use of a single screening question to measure sedentary behavior. Am J Public Health. 2001;91(12):2010-2.Macera CA, 2001

6 Kaleta D, Makowiec-Dabrowska T, Jegier A. Leisure-time physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and work ability: a study in randomly selected residents of Lódź. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2004;17(4):457-64. Kaleta D, 2004

7 Sörensen L, Honkalehto S, Kallinen M, Pekkonen M, Louhevaara V, Smolander J, Alén M. Are cardiorespiratory fitness and walking performance associated with self-reported quality of life and work ability? Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2007;20(3):257-64. Sörensen L, 2007

8 Sörensen LE, Pekkonen MM, Männikkö KH, Louhevaara VA, Smolander J, Alén MJ. Associations between work ability, health-related quality of life, physical activity and fitness among middle-aged men. Appl Ergon. 2008;39(6):786-91. Sörensen LE, 2008