It has become commonplace to discuss the decline in engagement and focus among the American workforce (APA , 2011; Gallup, 2011). Numerous theories have been examined by Groppel & Wiegand (2011) as to why engagement is on an alarming decline, and an abundance of ideas (Robison, 2010) have been suggested as to how to solve this crisis. Unfortunately, most of these proposed solutions require major changes in the ways in which companies work. Recent advances in neuroscience, however, suggest there may be an easier and simpler answer. For the past several years, researchers have been studying the effects of physical activity on the brain (e.g., Hillman, et al, 2003; Hillman, et al, 2004). Their findings have ranged from long-term effects (Ratey, 2008, Ratey & Loehr, 2011) to short-term effects (Bollo, et al; Groppel & Wiegand, 2012). Ratey’s work demonstrated that there is actually brain growth and development following long-term exercise programs, while Bollo’s work demonstrated that there is a brief (one to two minutes in length), regional hyperoxygenation to the brain when one begins moving in a bout of exercise.
In an effort to apply these neuroscientific implications to the corporate framework, Wellness & Prevention, Inc., a health and performance solutions provider that offers an integrated portfolio of solutions covering the broad spectrum of population health, developed the Organization in MOTION™ Program to study the impact that small and frequent amounts of movement can have on individual energy levels, cognition, creativity, and problem-solving throughout the day. The objective of the initiative was to test the theory that increasing movement would increase self-reported energy, engagement, and focus levels in employees. To do this, Wellness & Prevention simultaneously administered the program to two distinct populations.
The Science
Without movement, which is a form of recovery for the body, Ratey, in his book, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain (2008), notes that streaming torrents of demands … keep the amygdala (responsible for the brain’s primary fight or flight mechanism) flying (p. 69) … and if mild stress becomes chronic, the unrelenting cascade of cortisol triggers genetic action that begins to sever synaptic connections and cause dendrites to atrophy and cells to die. He goes on to say that “eventually, the hippocampus, a critically important part of the brain where information is transferred into memory, can end up physically shriveled like a raisin”(p. 74). In the past decade, there has been a body of research supporting this notion, depicting how chronic stress reduces hippocampus volume (Czeh & Lucassen, P., 2007; Heine, et al, 2004; Lee, et al, 2009). As described by Dr. James Levine – a world-renowned obesity specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota – this means that the brain activity of the person who sits too long will start dimming, even to the point that “brain waves fall into a slumbering state” (Levine, 2009, p. 18). Ratey furthers this explanation with the statement that “when a nerve cell is called into action, its metabolic machinery switches on like a pilot light in a furnace” (p. 71). Research indicates that a loss of nerve signals due to inactivity causes a loss of acetylcholine receptors in the brain (Akaabourne, et al, 1999). In other words: If an employee stops moving, he or she loses acetylcholine receptors and the synaptic connection (Akaabourne, et al, 1999). These researchers also found that acetylcholine receptors have a half-lifeof about 14 days without some form of stimulation. If that happens, the employee loses brain processing speed, faces a diminished ability to learn, and experiences short-term memory loss (Akaaboune, et al 1999). All of this may affect his or her business performance.
Researchers (Akaaboune, et al 1999) found that physical activity created stimulation for acetylcholine production. According to Levine (2009), the mere act of getting up out of one’s chair is all it takes to break out of “hibernation mode.” Here, Levine is referring to the seriousness of our sedentary state, discussing how, even at the cellular state (p. 25), our cognitive and biological processes begin slowing down when we are not moving. Just standing up can improve one’s ability to think (p. 33). People who choose to stand instead of sit note that their minds feel clearer and that they are better able to problem solve (p. 31). Standing often leads to other movement, such as pacing while on the phone or walking to the copier,
which may ultimately lead to improved performance. In fact, Levine states that we are hard-wired to do our best exploring, inventing, and developing through the motion and energy expenditure of our human machine (p. 31).One to two minutes of moderate to vigorous activity are important because that is how long it takes for the brain to “autoregulate,” or re-calibrate itself. In one research article called “When the Air Hits Your Brain,” researchers Bollo, et al (2010) found, in a case study with one subject, that within 20 seconds of initiating a bicycle pedaling exercise, transient oxygen increased in the brain, went back down, and then rose again until it stabilized at one minute and six seconds. Researchers saw similar results with that subject at the onset of a running exercise. Oxygen increased within 10 seconds, then decreased over the next 20 seconds, and peaked again until it stabilized at two minutes. The authors of this study offer that these findings – this one- to two-minute period of hyperoxygenation – could be one “mechanism by which exercise achieves myriad cognitive benefits.” This research gives credence to Ratey’s comment (2008) that when the body starts moving, the brain “lights up” in almost all areas, and the result may be improved cognition, creativity, and problem-solving. Accordingly, we believe exercise intervals of one to two minutes every 30 minutes can make a difference in performance.
Study Design
The Organization in MOTION™ Project involved two companies: New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc., a Boston-based company that manufactures and markets athletic shoes and apparel, and Wellness & Prevention, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Company. Both authors are current employees of Wellness & Prevention, Inc., and results for each firm will be reported individually. The Organization in MOTION™ Program was simultaneously launched at New Balance and Wellness & Prevention, encouraging employees to move strategically for one to two minutes at frequent intervals throughout the day. Employees were also encouraged to stand up while talking on the phone, move around during meetings, take stretch breaks while on conference calls, and incorporate more movement and activity into every aspect of their work days.
The essential elements of the Organization in MOTION™ program were the
same across both companies.
These included:
• A formal in-person or live video kick-off event with Dr. Jack Groppel. His one-hour kick-off presentation highlighted the science behind the Organization in MOTION™ program, outlined the details of the program, and specified exactly what employees could do to increase their activity levels throughout the work day. An important part of the presentation was visible company management support for the program. In both cases, senior executives from these 6 companies stressed their commitment to the program, along with
their strong desire for employee participation. Kick-off attendance was encouraged, but voluntary.
• Self-administered online surveys. Study design included two self-administered online surveys. The pre-survey was administered at the very beginning of the program, while the post-survey was administered after 90 days. Participation in the surveys was completely voluntary, and there were no incentives for completion.
• Three to five Movement Champions at each site.
Stay tuned as we introduce the methods and analyze the results in part 2 of the Becoming an Organization in MOTION ™ series.
Jack Groppel is the Vice President of Applied Science & Performance Training, Wellness & Prevention, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, and Co-Founder of the Human Performance Institute®. He is an internationally recognized authority and pioneer in the science of human performance, and an expert in fitness and nutrition.