BACKGROUND: Sufficient levels of physical activity provide cardio-protective benefit. However within developed society sedentary work and inflexible working hours promotes physical inactivity. Consequently to ensure a healthy workforce there is a requirement for exercise strategies adaptable to occupational time constraint. This study examined the effect of a 12 week aerobic exercise training intervention programme implemented during working hours on the cardiovascular profile of a sedentary hospital workforce. METHODS: Twenty healthy, sedentary full-time staff members of the North West London Hospital Trust cytology unit were randomly assigned to an exercise (n = 12; mean +/- SD age 41 +/- 8 years, body mass 69 +/- 12 kg) or control (n = 8; mean +/- SD age 42 +/- 8 years, body mass 69 +/- 12 kg) group. The exercise group was prescribed a progressive aerobic exercise-training programme to be performed 4 times a week for 8 weeks (initial intensity 65% peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak)) and to be conducted without further advice for another 4 weeks. The control was instructed to maintain their current physical activity level. Oxygen economy at 2 minutes (2minVO2), 4 minutes (4minVO2), VO2peak, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), BMI, c-reactive protein (CRP), fasting glucose (GLU) and total cholesterol (TC) were determined in both groups pre-intervention and at 4 week intervals. Both groups completed a weekly Leisure Time Questionnaire to quantify additional exercise load. RESULTS: The exercise group demonstrated an increase from baseline for VO2peak at week 4 (5.8 +/- 6.3%) and 8 (5.0 +/- 8.7%) (p < 0.05). 2minVO2 was reduced from baseline at week 4 (-10.2 +/- 10.3%), 8 (-16.8 +/- 10.6%) and 12 (-15.1 +/- 8.7%), and 4minVO2 at week 8 (-10.7 +/- 7.9%) and 12 (-6.8 +/- 9.2) (p < 0.05). There was also a reduction from baseline in CRP at week 4 (-0.4 +/- 0.6 mg/L) and 8 (-0.9 +/- 0.8 mg/L) (p < 0.05). The control group showed no such improvements. CONCLUSION: This is the first objectively monitored RCT to show that moderate exercise can be successfully incorporated into working hours, to significantly improve physical capacity and cardiovascular health.

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