¹Governo do Estado do Espírito Santo, Vitoria, Brazil
²ICEPi - Instituto Capixaba de Ensino, Pesquisa e Inovação em Saúde, Vitoria, Brazil

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Introduction: Physical exercise in the workplace, health education, and ergonomic adjustments in the occupational environment are excellent tools for reducing pain and potential work-related injuries. Currently, the situation is exacerbated by home office arrangements, where people have begun working from home in environments that are often unplanned and not adapted for such activities.

Methods: This is a two-month study protocol involving approximately 40 workers of both genders, aged over 18, from the administrative sector of a public agency who will be allocated to remote work. We will conduct physical exercises during their work activities. These exercises will be carried out remotely by health professionals via an online platform, aiming to promote physical activity, active breaks at work, and awareness of the workers’ physical condition. Sessions will be held twice a week, lasting approximately 15 minutes, following a protocol of physical exercises (warm-up, stretching, strengthening, and relaxation) for the entire body. The exercises will be conducted remotely through a specialized free videoconferencing platform, where a link will be sent to the employee for direct contact with the therapist. Recordings of the sessions will also be made available so that employees can practice on other days that they find convenient. We will evaluate the workers at baseline (two weeks before starting remote work), during remote work (starting from the fourth week), and upon returning to in-person work (two weeks after returning from remote work). In addition to the ergonomic assessment, we will evaluate and monitor the general health status (level of physical activity, sleep quality, and screen time) of the workers via smartphone applications. Along with providing the exercises, we will adopt strategies to encourage participation and motivation among employees, such as engaging area managers to facilitate the closure of work activities during the days and times of the exercises.

Results: It is expected that the physical exercise program during remote work will improve the well-being of workers, as they will not only engage in physical activity but also take breaks from work and interact with instructors, thus gaining physical and mental benefits.

Discussion: Assessing workers in remote work settings faces barriers; however, with technology, it can be executed with easy access and low cost, yielding effective results for workers.

Conclusion: Physical exercise in the workplace via a remote platform for employees working remotely can be a low-cost and easily accessible intervention to reduce occupational risks in an environment that is not designed for work.