Abstract / Summary
Introduction: Prolonged sitting is associated with impaired glucose regulation and increased cardiometabolic risk, particularly among individuals with sedentary occupational lifestyles. This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of intermittent Soleus Push-up (SPU) exercises performed during a postprandial period on glucose, blood pressure, and heart rate responses in sedentary office workers.Methods: Twelve healthy adult civil servants with predominantly desk-based occupations participated in this pilot study. Participants were allocated to intervention (n=6) and control (n=6) groups. Following baseline fasting measurements, including blood glucose, blood pressure, and heart rate, all participants underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test after an overnight fast. The intervention group performed intermittent SPU exercises for 30 seconds followed by 90 seconds of rest during a 120-minute postprandial period, while the control group remained seated. Measurements were repeated at the end of the experimental period (120-min after glucose ingestion).Results: The groups demonstrated comparable baseline characteristics, including fasting glucose, blood pressure, and heart rate values (p>0.05). However, postprandial blood glucose levels were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p=0.030). Similarly, postprandial heart rate was significantly lower in the intervention group (p=0.045). In contrast, postprandial systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were comparable between the groups (p=0.148 and p=0.572, respectively).Conclusion: Intermittent SPU performed during prolonged sitting may be associated with lower acute postprandial glucose concentrations and heart rate responses. Larger and longer-term studies are required to determine the clinical relevance of this approach.