The effectiveness of an aerobic exercise intervention on worksite health-related physical fitness--a case in a high-tech company.

BACKGROUND: The major objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise intervention with goals of improving health-related physical fitness in one high-tech company in Taiwan. METHODS: This study was conducted as a quasi-experimental design. Among the 54 subjects enrolled in the study, 26 subjects of the volunteers agreed to participate in an aerobic exercise program. The control group was comprised of a similar sample of 28 subjects working at the same company. Subjects in the exercise group participated in a 12-week aerobic exercise program, while subjects in the control group did not participate. RESULTS: The results of analysis of variance with repeated measures of health-related physical fitness showed that the subjects in the exercise group had significantly more improvements in abdominal muscle strength and endurance than the subjects in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that one 12-week aerobic exercise program was effective in improving the abdominal muscle strength and endurance of employees of a high-tech company.