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Int J Sports Med 2022; 43(02): 97-106
DOI: 10.1055/a-1502-6787
Review

Effects of Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting on Cardiovascular Parameters: A systematic Review

Gustavo Oliveira da Silva 
1   Post-graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, Sao Paulo, Brazil
,
Luiza Batista Santini
2   Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo, Brazil
,
Breno Quintella Farah
3   Departament of Physical Education, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
4   Post-graduate Program in Physical Education, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
,
Antonio Henrique Germano-Soares
5   Associated Post-graduate Program in Physical Education Universidade de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
,
Mariliade Almeida Correia
6   Post-graduate Program in Medicine, Universidade Nove de Julho, Sao Paulo, Brazil
,
Raphael Mendes Ritti-Dias
1   Post-graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, Sao Paulo, Brazil
› Author Affiliations Funding This work was supported by: “Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo – FAPESP” (processo#2019/05221-1), “Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq” (processo#310508/2017-7, processo#409224/2018-9), e “Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – CAPES” (processo#88881.133008/2016-01).
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Abstract

The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the acute and chronic effects of sitting breaks on cardiovascular parameters. PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched by two independent researchers for relevant studies published until February 2020. Acute or chronic studies reporting the effects of sitting breaks or reduction in sitting time on cardiovascular parameters were examined. The eligibility criteria followed PICOS: Population - Humans ≥ 18 years old; Interventions – Sitting break strategies; Comparisons – Uninterrupted sitting; Outcomes – Cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure, heart rate, ambulatory blood pressure, vascular function, pulse-wave velocity, cerebral blood flow and biomarkers); Study design – Randomized controlled trials, non-randomized non-controlled trials and randomized crossover trials. Forty-five studies were included, where 35 investigated the acute and 10 the chronic effects of sitting breaks or reductions in sitting time. Walking was the main acute study strategy, used in different volumes (1 min 30 s to 30 min), intensities (light to vigorous) and frequencies (every 20 min to every 2 h). Acute studies found improvements on cardiovascular parameters, especially blood pressure, flow-mediated dilation, and biomarkers, whereas chronic studies found improvements mostly on blood pressure. Breaking up or reducing sitting time improves cardiovascular parameters, especially with walking.

Key words

sitting breaks, cardiovascular health, physical activity

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 07 December 2020

Accepted: 28 April 2021

Article published online:
17 September 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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