Effects of a worksite physical activities program among men and women: An interventional study in a footwear industry

The study aims to assess the association between various levels of engagement in a worksite physical activities program and variables related to musculoskeletal symptoms, psychophysiological well-being, difficulty to perform tasks, willingness to work, and interpersonal relationships, among men and women in a footwear industry. This program involved 1113 workers. Data were analysed using an ordinal logistic regression model. In women, an increase in the frequency of participation in the worksite physical activities program was associated with less musculoskeletal pain (OR = 3.12; 2.07–4.71), better relationships among colleagues (OR = 2.83; 1.67–4.81), and a higher level of psychophysiological well-being (OR = 1.98; 1.06–3.70). In men, an increase in the frequency participation in the worksite physical activities program was associated with less difficulty in performing occupational tasks (OR = 0.49; 0.27–0.87). Thus, the association between occupational exercises and studied variables differed between genders. •Participation in a WPAP seems to produce different outcomes between men and women.•An intense engagement in the program seems to benefit more for women than men.•Increasing WPAP frequency results in a higher percentage of positive responses.