Table 2.

The effects of a physical activity intervention on body mass, body composition and physical work capacity of female shift workers. No significant differences in the changes in body mass and body composition (skinfold measurements) were found between the exercise intervention and control groups. Variables relevant to functional performance (e.g. maximal oxygen consumption - VO₂ max) were improved to a greater degree in the exercise intervention compared to the control group. HR - heart rate. RPE - Ratings of perceived exertion. ME - a test of abdominal muscle endurance. NS - not statistically significant (P>0.05). Adapted from Harma et al. [89]

Function	Exercise intervention Group				Control group
Function	Baseline mean±SD	Absolute mean change from baseline	% mean change from baseline	P for mean change	Baseline mean±SD	Absolute mean change from baseline	% mean change from baseline	P for mean change	P for difference between mean changes

Body mass (kg)	60.3 ± 7.1	−0.6	−1.00	0.01	63.6 ± 7.9	−0.5	−0.79	NS	NS
Skinfold (mm)	33.2 ± 10.5	−2.5	−7.5	0.01	35.7 ± 11.8	−0.4	−1.1	NS	NS
HR at rest (beats min ⁻¹)	72.1 ± 12.4	−5.0	−6.9	0.001	64.7 ± 11.2	+0.3	+0.5	NS	0.05
HR at 50w (beats min ⁻¹)	111.3 ± 13.1	−4.7	−4.2	0.01	105.3 ± 10.9	−2.9	−2.8	NS	NS
RPE 50w (6–20)	10.1 ± 1.8	−1.2	−11.9	0.001	10.5 ± 2.0	−0.4	−3.8	NS	0.05
VO_2max (L. min ⁻¹)	1.99 ± 0.36	+0.09	+4.52	0.01	2.14 ±0.39	−0.03	−1.4	NS	0.01
VO_2max (ml. min ⁻¹ kg ⁻¹)	33.2 ± 5.3	+1.9	+5.7	0.001	34.1 ±6.7	−0.3	−0.9	NS	0.001
ME (sit ups 30s⁻¹)	13.3 ± 3.3	+ 2.9	+21.8	0.001	12.9 ±2.1	+0.5	+3.9	NS	0.001