The role of physical activity in workplace well-being: impacts on stress, productivity, and health: a narrative review

Abstract

PurposeStress is a condition that can manifest itself as a distortion of the normal functioning of the body and mind. A fair amount can be positive for the achievement of work objectives, but when it is excessive, it can have repercussions in the workplace, worsening the quality of the work itself. Considering the well-known benefits of physical activity (PA), it can improve and prevent this and other negative conditions to which a worker is subjected. Therefore, this narrative review aims to investigate the current situation on workplace stress and the effects of PA on workers' health in both sedentary and non-sedentary jobs to raise awareness that PA can improve workers' quality of life.MethodsTo retrieve eligible articles on workplace stress and the effects of PA, a manual search was conducted on the following databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Articles published up to March 31, 2023 were included, with no limitation related to the start of the research period.ResultsPA appears to provide numerous benefits to workers in the workplace, from physical to mental improvements.ConclusionsPA is of considerable importance in improving the quality of life of workers, reducing stress, and improving productivity.