Active Workstations to Fight Sedentary Behaviour

Postural shifts and body perceived discomfort during 1-hour sitting when leaning and sitting on an air-filled seat cushion among healthy office workers

This study compared the number of postural shifts and perceived discomfort while leaning and sitting on an air-filled seat cushion for 1 hour. Sixty office workers typed a standard text while leaning on a cushion placed behind the low back, sitting on a cushion placed under the buttocks, and sitting without a cushion (a control condition). The number of postural shifts was collected using a seat pressure mat device. Low back discomfort was assessed using the Borg CR-10 scale. Leaning on a seat cushion (22 shifts/h) led to a significantly higher number of postural shifts than sitting on a seat cushion (18 shifts/h) and the control condition (20 shifts/h). Leaning or sitting on a seat cushion significantly decreased low back discomfort compared to the control condition (p < 0.05). Leaning on a seat cushion placed behind the low back may be an effective means of preventing low back pain among office workers.

What it takes to reduce sitting at work: a pilot study on the effectiveness and correlates of a multicomponent intervention

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the feasibility and effects of a simple-to-implement multicomponent intervention to reduce sedentary time of office workers.

METHODS

Six groups of eight to ten office workers took part in the two-week Leicht Bewegt intervention. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline (T0, n = 52), after 2 weeks (T1, n = 46), and after 5 weeks (T2, n = 38), including subjective sedentary measures and social-cognitive variables based on the health action process approach (HAPA). Objective sedentary measures were obtained using activPAL trackers.

RESULTS

The intention to reduce sedentary behavior during work increased significantly from T0 to T1. Participants' objective and subjective sitting time decreased significantly from T0 to T1, corresponding to an average decrease per 8-h-workday of 55 min (d = - .66) or 74 min (d = - 1.14), respectively. This reduction persisted (for subjective sitting time) at T2 (d = - 1.08). Participants indicated a high satisfaction with the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

The Leicht Bewegt intervention offers a feasible and effective opportunity to reduce sedentary behavior at work. Randomized controlled trials including longer follow-up time periods are needed to validate its benefits in different workplaces.

The effects of active workstations on reducing work-specific sedentary time in office workers: a network meta-analysis of 23 randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Active workstations have been proposed as a feasible approach for reducing occupational sedentary time. This study used a network meta-analysis (NMA) to assess and compare the overall efficacy of active workstation interventions according to type and concomitant strategy for reducing work-specific sitting time in office workers.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were searched from database inception until May 2022 to obtain randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy of active workstations with or without concomitant strategies for reducing occupational sedentary time in office workers. The risk of bias of the RCTs included in this study was assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook. An NMA with STATA 15.1 was used to construct a network diagram, league figures, and the final surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) approach.

RESULTS

A total of 23 eligible studies including eight different types of interventions with 1428 office workers were included. NMA results showed that compared to a typical desk, multicomponent intervention (standardized mean difference (SMD) =  - 1.50; 95% confidence interval (CI) - 2.17, - 0.82; SUCRA = 72.4%), sit-stand workstation + promotion (Reminders of rest breaks, posture variation, or incidental office activity) (SMD =  - 1.49; 95%CI - 2.42, - 0.55; SUCRA = 71.0%), treadmill workstation + promotion (SMD =  - 1.29; 95%CI - 2.51, - 0.07; SUCRA = 61.6%), and sit-stand workstation (SMD =  - 1.10, 95%CI - 1.64, - 0.56; SUCRA = 50.2%) were effective in reducing occupational sedentary time for office workers.

CONCLUSIONS

Multicomponent intervention, sit-stand workstation + promotion, treadmill workstation + promotion, and sit-stand workstation appear to be effective in reducing work-specific sedentary time for office workers. Furthermore, multicomponent interventions and active workstations + promotion better reduced work-specific sedentary time than active workstation alone. However, the overall certainty of the evidence was low.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Our study protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO); registration number: CRD42022344432.

Effectiveness of Multicomponent Interventions in Office-Based Workers to Mitigate Occupational Sedentary Behavior: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Sedentary time in workplaces has been linked to increased risks of chronic occupational diseases, obesity, and overall mortality. Currently, there is a burgeoning research interest in the implementation of multicomponent interventions aimed at decreasing sedentary time among office workers, which encompass a comprehensive amalgamation of individual, organizational, and environmental strategies.

OBJECTIVE

This meta-analysis aims at evaluating the effectiveness of multicomponent interventions to mitigate occupational sedentary behavior at work compared with no intervention.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were searched from database inception until March 2023 to obtain randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy of multicomponent interventions on occupational sedentary behavior among office-based workers. Two reviewers independently extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias by using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool. The average intervention effect on sedentary time was calculated using Stata 15.1. Mean differences (MDs) with 95% CIs were used to calculate the continuous variables. Subgroup analyses were performed to determine whether sit-stand workstation, feedback, and prompt elements played an important role in multicomponent interventions. Further, the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) system was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence.

RESULTS

A total of 11 RCTs involving 1894 patients were included in the analysis. Five studies were rated as low risk of bias, 2 as unclear risk of bias, and 4 as high risk. The meta-analysis results showed that compared with no intervention, multicomponent interventions significantly reduced occupational sitting time (MD=-52.25 min/8-h workday, 95% CI -73.06 to -31.44; P<.001) and occupational prolonged sitting time (MD=-32.63 min/8-h workday, 95% CI -51.93 to -13.33; P=.001) and increased occupational standing time (MD=44.30 min/8-h workday, 95% CI 23.11-65.48; P<.001), whereas no significant differences were found in occupational stepping time (P=.06). The results of subgroup analysis showed that compared with multicomponent interventions without installment of sit-stand workstations, multicomponent interventions with sit-stand workstation installment showed better effects for reducing occupational sitting time (MD=-71.95 min/8-h workday, 95% CI -92.94 to -51.15), increasing occupational standing time (MD=66.56 min/8-h workday, 95% CI 43.45-89.67), and reducing occupational prolonged sitting time (MD=-47.05 min/8-h workday, 95% CI -73.66 to -20.43). The GRADE evidence summary showed that all 4 outcomes were rated as moderate certainty.

CONCLUSIONS

Multicomponent interventions, particularly those incorporating sit-stand workstations for all participants, are effective at reducing workplace sedentary time. However, given their cost, further research is needed to understand the effectiveness of low-cost/no-cost multicomponent interventions.

The Effect of an Electronic Passive Prompt Intervention on Prolonged Occupational Sitting and Light-Intensity Physical Activity in Desk-Based Adults Working from Home during COVID-19 in Ireland

This study aimed to assess the effect of passive prompts on occupational physical behaviours (PBs) and bouts of prolonged sitting among desk-based workers in Ireland who were working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Electronic passive prompts were delivered every 45 min, asking participants to walk for five minutes, during working hours. Twenty-eight participants (aged 30-67 years) completed the six-week intervention between October 2020 and April 2021. PBs were measured using an activPAL3TM accelerometer, following a 24 h wear protocol, worn for the duration of the study. Participants were highly sedentary at both baseline (77.71% of work hours) and during the intervention (75.81% of work hours). However, the number of prolonged occupational sedentary bouts > 90 min was reduced compared to baseline (0.56 ± 0.08 vs. 0.77 ± 0.11, p = 0.009). Similar reductions were observed in the time spent in sustained sitting > 60 and >90 min when compared to baseline sedentary patterns (60 min: -31.27 ± 11.91 min, p = 0.014; 90 min: -27.97 ± 9.39 min, p = 0.006). Light-intensity physical activity (LIPA) significantly increased during the intervention (+14.29%, p = 0.001). This study demonstrates that passive prompts, delivered remotely, can both reduce the number and overall time spent in prolonged bouts of occupational sedentary behaviour and increase occupational LIPA.

Participation in the Global Corporate Challenge®, a Four-Month Workplace Pedometer Program, Reduces Psychological Distress

BACKGROUND

Psychological distress (stress) has been linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases and is exacerbated by a range of workplace factors. Physical activity has been shown to alleviate psychological distress. Previous pedometer-based intervention evaluations have tended to focus on physical health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the immediate and long-term changes in psychological distress in employees based in Melbourne, Australia after their participation in a four-month pedometer-based program in sedentary workplaces.

METHODS

At baseline, 716 adults (aged 40 ± 10 years, 40% male) employed in primarily sedentary occupations, voluntarily enrolled in the Global Corporate Challenge© (GCC©), recruited from 10 Australian workplaces to participate in the GCC^® Evaluation Study, completed the Kessler 10 Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Of these, 422 completed the K10 at baseline, 4 months and 12 months.

RESULTS

Psychological distress reduced after participation in a four-month workplace pedometer-based program, which was sustained eight months after the program ended. Participants achieving the program goal of 10,000 steps per day or with higher baseline psychological distress had the greatest immediate and sustained reductions in psychological distress. Demographic predictors of immediate reduced psychological distress (n = 489) was having an associate professional occupation, younger age, and being 'widowed, separated or divorced'.

CONCLUSIONS

Participation in a workplace pedometer-based program is associated with a sustained reduction in psychological distress. Low-impact physical health programs conducted in groups or teams that integrate a social component may be an avenue to improve both physical and psychological health in the workplace.

The Influence of Posture on Attention

Smith et al. (2019) found standing resulted in better performance than sitting in three different cognitive control paradigms: a Stroop task, a task-switching, and a visual search paradigm. Here, we conducted close replications of the authors' three experiments using larger sample sizes than the original work. Our sample sizes had essentially perfect power to detect the key postural effects reported by Smith et al. The results from our experiments revealed that, in contrast to Smith et al., the postural interactions were quite limited in magnitude in addition to being only a fraction of the size of the original effects. Moreover, our results from Experiment 1 are consistent with two recent replications (Caron et al., 2020; Straub et al., 2022), which reported no meaningful influences of posture on the Stroop effect. In all, the current research provides further converging evidence that postural influences on cognition do not appear to be as robust, as was initially reported in prior work.

Effects of a Job Crafting Intervention Program on Work Performance Among Japanese Employees: An Analysis of Secondary Outcomes of a Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

This study reports a randomized controlled trial of the effect of a job crafting intervention program on work performance and job crafting (as secondary outcomes) among Japanese employees.

METHODS

Participants who satisfied the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to an intervention (n = 138) or a control group (n = 143). Outcomes were measured at baseline and at 3-month and 6-month follow-up in both groups.

RESULTS

For the whole sample, the job crafting intervention program showed a nonsignificant effect on work performance and job crafting. However, the program showed a significant effect on these outcomes among younger participants (under 36years old).

CONCLUSIONS

The job crafting intervention program may not be sufficiently effective to improve work performance and job crafting for the whole sample of participants. However, it may be efficacious for younger workers.

Evidence for the Effectiveness of Feedback from Wearable Inertial Sensors during Work-Related Activities: A Scoping Review

Background: Wearable inertial sensor technology (WIST) systems provide feedback, aiming to modify aberrant postures and movements. The literature on the effects of feedback from WIST during work or work-related activities has not been previously summarised. This review examines the effectiveness of feedback on upper body kinematics during work or work-related activities, along with the wearability and a quantification of the kinematics of the related device. Methods: The Cinahl, Cochrane, Embase, Medline, Scopus, Sportdiscus and Google Scholar databases were searched, including reports from January 2005 to July 2021. The included studies were summarised descriptively and the evidence was assessed. Results: Fourteen included studies demonstrated a 'limited' level of evidence supporting posture and/or movement behaviour improvements using WIST feedback, with no improvements in pain. One study assessed wearability and another two investigated comfort. Studies used tri-axial accelerometers or IMU integration (n = 5 studies). Visual and/or vibrotactile feedback was mostly used. Most studies had a risk of bias, lacked detail for methodological reproducibility and displayed inconsistent reporting of sensor technology, with validation provided only in one study. Thus, we have proposed a minimum 'Technology and Design Checklist' for reporting. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that WIST may improve posture, though not pain; however, the quality of the studies limits the strength of this conclusion. Wearability evaluations are needed for the translation of WIST outcomes. Minimum reporting standards for WIST should be followed to ensure methodological reproducibility.

Sedentary behaviour and health in adults: an overview of systematic reviews

The purpose of this overview of systematic reviews was to determine the relationship between different types and patterns of sedentary behaviour and selected health outcomes in adults and older adults. Five electronic databases were last searched in May, 2019, with a 10-year search limit. Included reviews met the a priori population (community-dwelling adults aged 18 years and older), intervention/exposure/comparator (various types and/or patterns of sedentary behaviour), and outcomes criteria. Eighteen systematic reviews were included in the evidence synthesis. High levels of sedentary behaviour are unfavourably associated with cognitive function, depression, function and disability, physical activity levels, and physical health-related quality of life in adults. Reducing or breaking up sedentary behaviour may benefit body composition and markers of cardiometabolic risk. Total sedentary behaviour and TV viewing were most consistently associated with unfavourable health outcomes, while computer and Internet use may be favourably associated with cognitive function for older adults. The quality of evidence within individual reviews (as assessed by review authors) varied from low to high, while the certainty of evidence was low to very low. These findings have important public health implications, suggesting that adults should avoid high levels of sedentary behaviour and break-up periods of prolonged sitting. (PROSPERO registration nos.: CRD42019123121 and CRD42019127157.) Novelty High levels of sedentary behaviour are unfavourably associated with important health outcomes in adults. Reducing or breaking up sedentary behaviour may benefit body composition and markers of cardiometabolic risk. Computer and Internet use may be favourably associated with cognitive function in older adults.

Assessment of computer workstations for compliance with ergonomic guidelines: A field study

BACKGROUND

Computer workstation use is a risk factor for the development of musculoskeletal disorders. Governmental guidelines have been developed as a resource for workstation set-up to minimize this risk. The degree of worksite compliance with guidelines has not been examined.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine workstations using the VDT Workstation Checklist to determine compliance, and potential modifications.

METHODS

Subjects were recruited from a variety of work settings in Erie, PA. Workstations were assessed with the worker present, using the VDT Workstation Checklist. Adjustments and recommendations were made as appropriate.

RESULTS

Of the 60 workstations examined, 48%did not receive a passing score. All but one were correctable to an acceptable level with minimal low-cost modifications. The recommendation for wrist rests (43%), changes in monitor height (30%) or position (27%) and reposition of the keyboard (13.3%) and mouse (13.3%) were the most frequent modifications. Ten (16.7%) workstations did not require modification.

CONCLUSIONS

Almost half of workstations reviewed were not in compliance with current guidelines, however almost all (98%) could be brought into compliance with simple modifications. Office workers need guidance in setting up workspace and adjusting ergonomic equipment to provide comfortable and safe work settings and minimize musculoskeletal symptoms.

Effects of an "Active-Workstation" Cluster RCT on Daily Waking Physical Behaviors

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sit-to-stand and treadmill desks on sedentary behavior during a 12-month, cluster-randomized multicomponent intervention with an intent-to-treat design in overweight office workers.

METHODS

Sixty-six office workers were cluster-randomized into a control (n = 21; 8 clusters), sit-to-stand desk (n = 23; 9 clusters), or treadmill desk (n = 22; 7 clusters) group. Participants wore an activPAL™ accelerometer for 7 d at baseline, month 3, month 6, and month 12 and received periodic feedback on their physical behaviors. The primary outcome was total daily sedentary time. Exploratory outcomes included total daily and workplace sedentary, standing and stepping time, and the number of total daily and workplace sedentary, standing, and stepping bouts. Intervention effects were analyzed using random-intercept mixed linear models accounting for repeated measures and clustering effects.

RESULTS

Total daily sedentary time did not significantly differ between or within groups after 12 months. Month 3 gains were observed in total daily and workplace standing time in both intervention groups (sit-to-stand desk: mean Δ ± SD, 1.03 ± 1.9 h·d-1 and 1.10 ± 1.87 h at work; treadmill desk: mean Δ ± SD, 1.23 ± 2.25 h·d-1 and 1.44 ± 2.54 h at work). At month 3, the treadmill desk users stepped more at the workplace than the control group (mean Δ ± SD, 0.69 ± 0.87 h). Month 6 gains in total daily stepping were observed within the sit-to-stand desk group (mean Δ ± SD, 0.82 ± 1.62 h·d-1), and month 3 gains in stepping at the workplace were observed for the treadmill desk group (mean Δ ± SD, 0.77 ± 0.83 h). These trends were sustained through month 12 in only the sit-to-stand desk group.

CONCLUSIONS

Active-workstation interventions may cause short-term improvements in daily standing and stepping. Treadmill desk users engaged in fewer sedentary bouts, but sit-to-stand desks resulted in more frequent transitions to upright physical behaviors.

The Effects of Bike Desks in Formal Education Classroom-Based Physical Activity: A Systematic Review

A systematic review of the research conducted on classroom-based physical activity using bike desks, a school health prevention strategy. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review of bike desks effects on formal education students. Articles from two databases, Web of Science and PubMed, were analyzed according to PRISMA. The quality of each study was analyzed. After the exclusion criteria, eight articles were fully assessed based on six criteria: (1) author and year, (2) setting and sample, (3) duration, (4) outcomes measurements, (5) instruments and (6) main results. The results show how the interventions are mainly in secondary education and university, and most of them are quantitative studies of short-term interventions. Physical activity is the most frequently variable assessed, using logs, questionnaires and objective methods such as accelerometry and heart rate monitoring. Based on all the studies, it is feasible to implement bike desks in the classroom during theoretical lessons. The weaknesses are related to small samples and the use of different instruments to measure. In conclusion, this systematic review compiles the current information about bike desks in order to inform teachers and administrators for the implementation of bike desk in their schools. They should consider bike desks’ strengths and weaknesses.

Effects of cycling workstation to get tertiary employee moving on their overall health: study protocol for a REMOVE trial

BACKGROUND

Sedentary behaviour (SB) and low levels of physical activity (PA) are predictors of morbidity and mortality. Tertiary employees spend a considerable amount of their daily time seated and new efficient strategies to both reduce sedentary time and increase physical activity are needed. In that context, the REMOVE study aims at evaluating the health effects of a 24-week cycling desk intervention among office workers.

METHODS

A prospective, open-label, multicentre, two-arm parallel, randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted in office-sitting desk workers. Office workers (N = 80) who have 0.8 full time equivalent hours (FTE) and 75% of this time in a sitting position will be recruited from tertiary worksites in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of the two following interventions: (i) PPM6: performance of two 30 min of cycling desk (using portable pedal exercise machine-PPM) per working day for 6 months or (ii) CTL_PPM3: 3 months with no intervention (control) followed by 3 months during which workers will be asked to complete two 30 min of PPM per working day. At baseline (T0), at 3 months (T1) and at 6 months (T2) after the start of the interventions, primary outcomes; 7-day PA and SB (3D-accelerometers), secondary outcomes; body composition (bioelectrical impedance), physical fitness (aerobic fitness, upper and lower limb strength), metabolic outcomes (fasting blood samples), self-perceived stress, anxiety, quality of life at work and job strain (questionnaires), tertiary outcomes; resting metabolic rate and cycling energy expenditure (indirect calorimetry) and eating behaviours (questionnaires) will be measured. An ergonomic approach based on observations and individual interviews will be used to identify parameters that could determine adherence.

DISCUSSION

The REMOVE study will be the first RCT to assess the effects of cycling workstations on objectively measured PA and SB during working and non-working hours and on key physiological and psychological health outcomes. This study will provide important information regarding the implementation of such cycling workstations in office workers and on the associated potential health benefits.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04153214 . Registered on November 2019, version 1.

Effect of Acute Exercise and Cycling Desk on Energy Intake and Appetite Response to Mental Work: The CORTEX Study

BACKGROUND

While mental work has been shown to favor overconsumption, the present study compared the effect of a cognitive task alone, followed by acute exercise, or performed on a cycling desk, on short-term food intake and appetite in adults.

METHODS

A total of 19 normal-weight adults randomly completed: resting session (CON), 30-minute cognitive task (CT), 30-minute cognitive task followed by a 15-minute high-intensity interval exercise bout (CT-EX), and 30-minute cognitive task performed on a cycling desk (CT-CD). Energy expenditure was estimated (heart rate-workload relationship), and energy intake (EI; ad libitum) and appetite (visual analog scales) were assessed.

RESULTS

Energy expenditure was higher in CT-EX (P < .001) compared with the other conditions and in CT-CD compared with CON and CT (P < .01). EI was higher in CON (P < .05) and CT-CD compared with CT (P < .01). Relative EI was higher in CON compared with CT (P < .05) and lower in CT-EX compared with CT, CT-CD, and CON (all Ps < .001). Area under the curve desire to eat was higher in CON compared with CT (P < .05) and CT-EX (P < .01). Area under the curve prospective food consumption was higher in CON compared with CT-EX (P < .01). Overall composite appetite score was not different between conditions.

CONCLUSION

While cycling desks are recommended to break up sedentary time, the induced increase in energy expenditure might not be enough to significantly reduce overall short-term relative EI after mental work.

Cardiac autonomic responses to different tasks in office workers with access to a sit-stand table - a study in real work setting

The aim of this study was to characterise the cardiac autonomic modulation of different office tasks performed by office workers with access to a sit-stand table. Heart rate variability (HRV) of 24 office workers was measured for two hours during three days in the last week of sit-stand table use. HRV indexes and the percentage of heart rate reserve (%HRR) were calculated during computer and non-computer work tasks while sitting or standing, non-computer tasks away from the work desk, and informal work breaks. All cardiac autonomic responses demonstrated a statistically significant interaction effect between the tasks (all p < 0.05) except for the logarithmically-transformed high frequency power (ln HF ms²; p = 0.14). Tasks performed while standing and away from the desk had higher sympathetic modulation; in addition, the observed higher %HRR demonstrated that these tasks were more physically demanding in comparison to other tasks. Practitioner Summary: Prior reports indicated benefits based on alternated body postures using sit-stand table. Nevertheless, the cardiac autonomic responses of different tasks performed by office workers are unknown. This cross-sectional study showed that different tasks stimulate the cardiac autonomic nervous system in different ways, which could bring positive effects to the cardiovascular system.

Active meetings on stationary bicycle: An intervention to promote health at work without impairing performance

Workers who experienced prolonged sitting have higher risk of mortality from all causes compared to non-sedentary workers. However, work can also be a health enhancement opportunity and it also can be designed to improve health and well-being. This research presents a novel intervention designed to reduce sedentary behavior in the workplace. Seven teams of employees (N = 30) conducted two meetings: one in a sitting position and one on a stationary bike. Repeated measures for heart rate, perceptions of stress, well-being, focus, attention and fatigue were collected before, during and after both meetings. Heart rate was significantly higher during active meeting. Results also indicated a significant effect of active meeting on stress. Well-being, focus and attention were similar during both meetings. Fatigue was perceived to be reduced in the hours following the active meeting. This suggests that active meetings can promote health without impairing performance which offers new perspectives for interventions.

Factors associated with self-reported capacity to walk, jog and run in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objectives

This study aims to explore how disease and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) factors are associated with self-reported physical capacity in walking, jogging and running in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Patients and methods

This cross-sectional study is part of an ongoing cohort research project which started in 2014. A total of 198 patients (21 males, 177 females; mean age 51.5±16.1 years; range, 20 to 82 years) with SLE answered a question concerning physical capacity and the answers were categorized as low (can walk less than 2 km) and high (can jog and run at least 2 km) capacity. Additional measurements of disease activity (Systemic Lupus Activity Measure-Revised, SLAM-R), organ damage (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics-Damage Index, SLICC-DI), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, IPAQ-SF), exercise during the past year, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and HRQOL according to EuroQol five-dimension score and EuroQol visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) were included. The independent variables in the multiple logistic regression analysis were age, body mass index (BMI), disease duration, SLAM-R, SLICC-DI, IPAQ-SF category, sitting hours (IPAQ-SF), and exercise during the past year as well as HADS and EQ-VAS.

Results

Patients that reported low physical capacity (n=120) were older (p<0.001), had longer disease duration (p<0.001), had more organ damage (p<0.001), reported that they were less physically active (p=0.003), exercised less during the past year (p=0.001), reported more pain/discomfort and depressive symptom (p<0.001) and had lower overall HRQOL (p<0.001) and mobility and usual activities than those that reported high capacity (n=78). The regression analysis showed that age (median ≤49 vs >49) (Exp) (B): 4.52 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.05 to 9.98) (p<0.001), disease duration (median ≤17 vs >17) Exp (B): 2.53 (95% CI: 1.15 to 5.60) (p=0.02), SLICC-DI (median <1 vs ≥1) Exp (B): 3.60 (95% CI: 1.48 to 8.73) (p=0.005), and EQ-VAS (median <72 vs ≥72) Exp (B): 4.63 (95% CI: 2.13 to 10.05) (p<0.001) were significant factors associated with physical capacity (Nagelkerke R Squared=0.46).

Conclusion

Patients with low physical capacity were less physically active, exercised less and had more pain and depressive symptoms than those that reported a high capacity. However, only age, disease duration, organ damage and overall HRQOL were indicators of low physical capacity. In order to increase physical capacity in the management of SLE, it is important to address overall HRQOL.

Workplace Sedentary Behavior and Productivity: A Cross-Sectional Study

Reducing sedentary behavior in the workplace has become an important public health priority; however, some employers have expressed concerns regarding the potential for reduced productivity if employees are not seated while at work. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between workplace sedentary behavior (sitting time) and work productivity among full-time office-based employees, and further to investigate other potential factors associated with productivity. A 19-item online self-report survey was completed by 2068 government employees in Kansas. The survey assessed workplace sedentary behavior, work productivity, job satisfaction, and fatigue. Overall, office workers reported high levels of sedentary time (mean > 78%). The primary results indicated that sitting time was not significantly associated with productivity (β = 0.013, p = 0.519), but job satisfaction and fatigue were positively (β = 0.473, p < 0.001) and negatively (β = −0.047, p = 0.023) associated with productivity, respectively. Furthermore, participants with the highest level of sitting time (>91% of the time) reported lower job satisfaction and greater fatigue as compared with the lowest level of sitting time (<75% of the time). Taken together, these results offer promising support that less sitting time is associated with positive outcomes that do not seem to come at the expense of productivity.

Does type of active workstation matter? A randomized comparison of cognitive and typing performance between rest, cycling, and treadmill active workstations

Active workstations are associated with improved health outcomes, but differences in cognitive and typing outcomes between the types of active workstations are unclear. We addressed two main questions: (1) Are there differences in cognitive and typing performance between seated and active workstations? (2) Are there differences in cognitive and typing performance between cycling and treadmill workstations, specifically? Participants included 137 healthy young adults (74 female, mean age = 20.8 years) who completed two sessions. At session one (baseline), all participants completed cognitive and typing tests including the Rey-Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, a typing test, and a flanker task while sitting at rest. At session two, participants were randomized to an active workstation group (treadmill or cycling desk) during which they performed the tests listed above in a randomized fashion, using alternate versions when available. Participants showed significantly better attention and cognitive control scores during the active session as compared to the seated session, but worse verbal memory scores during the active session. Participants were faster and more accurate at typing during the active session relative to the seated session. There were no significant differences between cycling or treadmill workstations on any cognitive or typing outcomes. Improvements during active sessions may be influenced by practice effects, although alternate forms were used when possible. We conclude that active workstations do not seem to largely impact cognitive abilities, with the exception of a slight decrease in verbal memory performance. Findings suggest active workstations, whether walking or cycling, are useful to improve physical activity, particularly when completing tasks that do not require verbal memory recall.

Should we target increased physical activity or less sedentary behavior in the battle against cardiovascular disease risk development?

Physical inactivity is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality. In the last decade, there is also emerging evidence of the role of sedentary behaviors (sitting) as a risk factor for CVD. Therefore, there is increasing interest in understanding the independent and joint effects of physical activity and sedentary behavior on CVD risk. Higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and less time spent in sedentary behavior are associated with a decreased risk of CVD. There is also preliminary evidence that higher levels of light-intensity physical activity are associated with lower all-cause mortality rates; however, the cardio-protective effects of light-intensity physical activity are yet to be determined. The results from several studies have demonstrated that the effects of sedentary behavior on CVD risk is more pronounced among individuals who are physically inactive, compared to those who are more active. Further, high levels (60-75 min per day) of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity appear to eliminate the increased risk of CVD associated with excessive sedentary behavior. Replacing sedentary behavior with any intensity of physical activity will produce health benefits; however, the greatest benefits occur when replacing sedentary behavior with moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity.

Computer interactions during walking workstation use moderately affects spatial-temporal gait characteristics

BACKGROUND

Due to increased sedentary workstyles, active workstations have shown the ability to increase activity while only moderately affecting work ability. However, previous examinations have not examine fine motor mousing tasks on tripping descriptors.

RESEARCH QUESTION

What affect do mousing tasks of varying target size have on tripping descriptors during walking workstation use?

METHODS

Three-dimensional kinematic data were collected while participants used a walking workstation completing one baseline and three mousing conditions of varying target sizes.

RESULTS

Target size main effects (p < 0.001) detected decreased stride length in all experimental conditions, which were supported by moderate effect sizes, and decreased stance width and time in double limb support (p < 0.001 for both comparisons). Stance width differences resulted in large effect sizes between baseline and all conditions, while only moderate effect sizes were observed between time in double limb support in baseline compared to all conditions. No changes in knee flexion range of motion were observed in response to target size (p = 0.278).

SIGNIFICANCE

These results indicate that walking workstation users shorten their stride length and decrease their base of support while completing mousing tasks. The placement of the upper extremities on the workstation desk likely acted as the primary mechanism to increase stability. It is concluded that performing mousing tasks of varying target size using a walking workstation does not pose greater risk for adverse gait events.

Evidence of Workplace Interventions-A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews

Work environment factors are highly correlated with employees' health and well-being. Our aim was to sum up current evidence of health promotion interventions in the workplace, focusing on interventions for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders, psychological and behavioral disorders as well as interventions for older employees and economic evaluations. We conducted a comprehensive literature search including systematic reviews published from April 2012 to October 2017 in electronic databases and search engines, websites of relevant organizations and institutions. It consisted of simple and specific terms and word combinations related to workplace health promotion based on the search strategy of a previous review. After full-text screening, 74 references met the eligibility criteria. Using the same search strategy, there was a higher proportion of relevant high-quality studies as compared with the earlier review. The heterogeneity of health promotion interventions regarding intervention components, settings and study populations still limits the comparability of studies. Future studies should also address the societal and insurer perspective, including costs to the worker such as lost income and lost time at work of family members due to caregiving activities. To this end, more high-quality evidence is needed.

Computer-based Prompt's impact on postural variability and sit-stand desk usage behavior; a cluster randomized control trial

Sit-to-stand workstations have been deployed in office environments to reduce sedentary behavior and improve worker's health. However, efforts to initiate and sustain long-term usage of sit-stand workstations has been a challenge, with primarily anecdotal evidence suggesting many employees cease using their sit-stand workstations once the newness diminishes. To objectively determine sit-stand workstation usage and what impact computer-based prompts would have on sit-stand desk use and sustainability, 200 office workers (118 control and 82 treatment) in two different geographic locations were continuously monitored over a 4 ½ month period, which consisted of a 6-week baseline and a 3-month experimental period. During the 3-month experimental period, computer-based prompts elicited a 229% increase in daily standing transitions which was sustained over the entire 3 months with 40% of the participants adhering to a pre-determined sit to stand schedule. These findings indicate that the use of computer-based prompts can be used to motivate employees to change their behavior regarding the use of sit-to-stand workstations.

Standing desks for sedentary occupations: Assessing changes in satisfaction and health outcomes after six months of use

BACKGROUND

Standing desks are a low cost option for the reduction of sedentary behavior.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated changes in utility and health outcomes during a standing desk intervention.

METHODS

Thirty-five participants (BMI >25) who reported sitting an average of≥six hours per workday were recruited. Participants were randomized into a control or intervention group. Eleven were enrolled in the control group and 24 in the intervention group. Participants in the intervention group were outfitted with an adjustable standing desktop accessory while participants in the control group maintained a standard work desk. Self-reported and objective measures of sedentary time during an eight hour workday were captured for a baseline and intervention period. Changes in health outcomes and workplace satisfaction were assessed after six months.

RESULTS

Self-recorded sedentary behavior decreased by 25% after six months though no changes in health outcomes were observed. Subjective assessments of standing time were over-estimated by 10% (compared to accelerometer recordings) in the intervention group. The intervention group reported higher levels of satisfaction with comfort, customizability, and overall personal workplace.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a decrease in sedentary behavior, no changes in health outcomes occurred after a six month intervention. Future studies should incorporate objective measures of diet and physical activity to assess compensatory behaviors that may offset sedentary reduction. More sensitive health outcome measures should also be considered.

The effect of sit-stand desks on office worker behavioral and health outcomes: A scoping review

This scoping review examines the effects of sit-stand desks (SSDs) on six domains: behavior (e.g. time sitting and standing), physiological, work performance, psychological, discomfort, and posture. Fifty-three articles met criteria. We determined the percentage of significant results for each domain. Forty-seven studies were experimental trials. Sample sizes ranged from six to 231 participants. Follow-up time-frames ranged from one day to one year. Sixty-one percent of behavioral (24 studies), 37% of physiological (28 studies), 7% of work performance (23 studies), 31% of psychological (11 studies), 43% of discomfort (22 studies), and 18% of posture domain results (4 studies) were significant. We conclude that SSDs effectively change behaviors, but these changes only mildly effect health outcomes. SSDs seem most effective for discomfort and least for productivity. Further study is needed to examine long-term effects, and to determine clinically appropriate dosage and workstation setup.

Executive Function Performance in Young Adults When Cycling at an Active Workstation: An fNIRS Study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the effects of self-paced cycling at an active workstation on executive functions and cortical activity.

METHODS

In a crossover study design, 37 young adults (45.9% females) were randomly assigned to the following two task conditions: (1) performing cognitive tests during sitting, (2) performing cognitive tests while cycling at an active workstation. Executive functions were assessed by the Stroop color and word test and the task-switching paradigm. Cortical activity was monitored using a multi-channel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) system.

RESULTS

The behavioral results showed that there were no significant differences on the Stroop interference effects (P = 0.66) between the sitting and the cycling conditions. In all probability, no differences on the global switch costs (P = 0.90) and local switch costs (P = 0.67) were observed between the sitting and the cycling conditions. For the fNIRS results, the oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) in response to the Stroop interference in channels 5, 10, and 12 were decreased during the cycling condition (all Ps < 0.05, FDR-corrected). Conversely, the oxy-Hb associated with the global switch costs in channels 3, 29, and 31 were increased during the cycling condition (all Ps < 0.05, FDR-corrected).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicated that behavioral performances on executive functions were not affected by cycling at an active workstation, while cognitive resources were reallocated during cycling at an active workstation.

Use of Active Workstations in Individuals with Overweight or Obesity: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aims to collect existing literature and summarize the impact of active workstations on the health and work outcomes of participants with overweight or obesity.

METHODS

Five databases were examined (until March 2018), and the keywords "desk," "workstation," "work station," and "work stations" were used with any one of the following terms: "active," "bik*," "cycling," "height adjustable," "stepping," "stand up," "standing," "treadmill*," "walk*," "elliptical," "bicycl*," "pedaling," "stability ball," "stability balls," "exercise ball," "exercise balls," "swiss ball," "swiss balls," "sit-to-stand," and "sit stand."

RESULTS

Nineteen studies (two with school-aged children) were included in this review. Nine studies used treadmill, three used cycling, one used stepping, and twelve used standing desks. A decrease in sedentary time and an increase in physical activity level and energy expenditure were observed for most of the active workstations. Both the treadmill and the cycle desk improved glycemic control, but the treadmill desk was the only workstation for which improved work performance and help in body-weight management (body fat percentage, body weight, waist and hip circumference) were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Active workstations are a promising solution for decreasing occupational sedentariness. Overall, active workstations have a positive impact on energy expenditure and physical activity in individuals with overweight and obesity.

The effects of sedentary behaviour interventions on work-related productivity and performance outcomes in real and simulated office work: A systematic review

This review examined the impact of environmental, behavioral, and combined interventions to reduce occupational sedentary behaviour on work performance and productivity outcomes. Productivity outcomes were defined as variables assessing work-related tasks (e.g., typing, mouse), whereas performance outcomes were categorized as any variables assessing cognition that did not mimic work-related tasks. Nine databases were searched for articles published up to January 2018. Sixty-three studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria: 45 examined a productivity outcome (i.e., typing, mouse, work-related tasks, and absenteeism), 38 examined a performance outcome (i.e., memory, reading comprehension, mathematics, executive function, creativity, psychomotor function, and psychobiological factors), and 30 examined a self-reported productivity/performance outcome (i.e., presenteeism or other self-reported outcome). Overall, standing interventions do not appear to impact productivity/performance outcomes, whereas walking and cycling interventions demonstrate mixed null/negative associations for productivity outcomes. Hence, standing interventions to reduce occupational sedentary behaviour could be implemented without negatively impacting productivity/performance outcomes.

Effects of cycle and treadmill desks on energy expenditure and cardiometabolic parameters in sedentary workers: review and meta-analysis

Purpose. The aim of this article was to evaluate the effects of cycle and treadmill desks on energy expenditure and cardiovascular and biochemical indicators in sedentary workers. Materials and methods. In February 2018, six databases were searched. Both parallel and crossover design studies evaluating workplace cycle and treadmill desks compared to a conventional seated condition were included. Results. Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Cycle and treadmill desks significantly increased energy expenditure (standard mean difference [SMD] = 3.84, p < 0.001, I² = 95%) and the heart rate (SMD = 1.68, p < 0.001, I² = 91%), and lowered blood glucose and insulin levels (SMD = -0.54, p < 0.001, I² = 0% and SMD = -3.13, p < 0.001, I² = 76%, respectively). The interventions had no effect on blood pressure and other biochemical indicators. Conclusion. Cycle and treadmill desks may positively influence energy expenditure in sedentary workers and could be effective for reducing negative effects of workplace-related sedentary behaviour. However, considerable heterogeneity is present in the measuring protocols for energy expenditure.

A Narrative Review of School-Based Physical Activity for Enhancing Cognition and Learning: The Importance of Relevancy and Integration

Engaging in regular physical activity can have substantial cognitive and academic benefits for children, and is generally promoted for its beneficial effects on children's physical and mental health. Although embodied cognition research has convincingly shown the integral relationship of the human body and mind, in schools physical activity and cognitive activity are typically treated as unrelated processes. Consequently, most physical activities used are neither sufficiently relevant for nor fully integrated into the learning tasks. In reviewing the literature regarding the integration of physical activity into education to promote cognition and learning, two main lines of research emerged: exercise and cognition research vs. embodied cognition research. In this narrative review, we describe these two separately evolved schools of thought, highlighting their differences and commonalities. In categorising the existing studies on a 2 × 2 matrix, concerning the two main categories of relevance for and integration into the learning task, it becomes clear where the different foci lie, and how both lines of research could profit from learning from each other. Finally, a new instructional model that integrates task-relevant physical activities into the cognitive/learning task is proposed to inform both further research and educational practice.

Effect of Using a Sit-Stand Desk on Ratings of Discomfort, Fatigue, and Sleepiness Across a Simulated Workday in Overweight and Obese Adults

BACKGROUND

Limited research examines the influence of sit-stand desks on ratings of discomfort, sleepiness, and fatigue. This study evaluated the time course of these outcomes over 1 day.

METHODS

Adults (N = 25) completed a randomized cross-over study in a laboratory with two 8-hour workday conditions: (1) prolonged sitting (SIT) and (2) alternating sitting and standing every 30 minutes (SIT-STAND). Sleepiness was assessed hourly. Discomfort, physical fatigue, and mental fatigue were measured every other hour. Linear mixed models evaluated whether these measures differed across conditions and the workday. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen's d.

RESULTS

Participants were primarily white (84%) males (64%), with mean (SD) body mass index of 31.9 (5.0) kg/m² and age 42 (12) years. SIT-STAND resulted in decreased odds of discomfort (OR = 0.37, P = .01) and lower overall discomfort (β = -0.19, P < .001, d = 0.42) versus SIT. Discomfort during SIT-STAND was lower in the lower and upper back, but higher in the legs (all Ps< .01, d = 0.26-0.42). Sleepiness (β = -0.09, P = .01, d = 0.15) and physical fatigue (β = -0.34, P = .002, d = 0.34) were significantly lower in SIT-STAND. Mental fatigue was similar across conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Sit-stand desks may reduce acute levels of sleepiness, physical fatigue, and both overall and back discomfort. However, levels of lower extremity discomfort may be increased with acute exposure.

Stand Up to Work: assessing the health impact of adjustable workstations

Purpose

Sedentary behavior is linked to health risks, and prolonged sitting is prevalent among office workers. Adjustable workstations (AWS) promote health by allowing transitions between sitting and standing. Stand Up to Work compares workers with AWS to traditional desks (TD). The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Employees were randomly selected from one office floor to receive AWS, two identical floors maintained TD. Participants received workplace wellness and ergonomic training, completed self-administered questionnaires, and responded to repeated micropolling at baseline (T0), 3 (T1), 6 (T2), and 12 (T3) months in Atlanta, 2015-2016. Groups were compared using two-sample t-tests and nonparametric Wilcoxon tests.

Findings

Compared to TD (n = 24), participants with AWS (n = 24) reported significantly less sedentary behavior at T1 and T2 after AWS installation (p<0.05), with a retention rate at T2 of 80 and 65 percent for the AWS and TD group, respectively. In all, 47 percent of participants with AWS reported decline in upper back, shoulder, and neck discomfort (p=0.04); 88 percent of AWS participants reported convenience to use, 65 percent reported increased productivity, and 65 percent reported positive impact outside the workplace. Individuals with normal or underweight body mass index (BMI) reported a significantly greater decline in percent of time sitting compared to participants with overweight or obese BMI at all three time points.

Originality/value

AWS are beneficial in reducing sedentary behavior in and outside the workplace. Behavioral changes were sustained over time and associated with less self-reported muscle pain, more self-reported energy, and awareness of standing. When considering total worker health, employers should include options for AWS to promote reducing sedentary behavior.

The Impact of Active Workstations on Workplace Productivity and Performance: A Systematic Review

Active workstations have been recommended for reducing sedentary behavior in the workplace. It is important to understand if the use of these workstations has an impact on worker productivity. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the effect of active workstations on workplace productivity and performance. A total of 3303 articles were initially identified by a systematic search and seven articles met eligibility criteria for inclusion. A quality appraisal was conducted to assess risk of bias, confounding, internal and external validity, and reporting. Most of the studies reported cognitive performance as opposed to productivity. Five studies assessed cognitive performance during use of an active workstation, usually in a single session. Sit-stand desks had no detrimental effect on performance, however, some studies with treadmill and cycling workstations identified potential decreases in performance. Many of the studies lacked the power required to achieve statistical significance. Three studies assessed workplace productivity after prolonged use of an active workstation for between 12 and 52 weeks. These studies reported no significant effect on productivity. Active workstations do not appear to decrease workplace performance.

Metabolic Rate during a Cognitive Vigilance Challenge at Alternative Workstations

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare energy expenditure (EE, kcal/min) at three workstations during an attention-demanding cognitive function task (Test of Variables of Attention or TOVA). Workstations included the seated desk (SIT), standing desk (STAND), and seated workstation designed to promote spontaneous movement (SWING).

METHODS

Adult males (n = 11) and females (n = 13) were assessed for EE using VO2 and VCO2 per quarter of the 22-min TOVA.

RESULTS

Average EE were 1.39 ± 0.06 (SIT), 1.55 ± 0.08 (SWING), and 1.44 ± 0.08 (STAND). Main effects (P < 0.05) were seen for workstation (SWING, STAND > SIT), and quarter of TOVA (Q2 < Q1,Q3,Q4). TOVA errors and response times were not different for workstations but increased for Q3 and Q4.

CONCLUSION

Spontaneous movement at an alternative workstation elevated EE 10% to 11% compared with sitting and could increase daily nonexercise activity thermogenesis without diminishing mental attention to desk work.

I Can Stand Learning: A Controlled Pilot Intervention Study on the Effects of Increased Standing Time on Cognitive Function in Primary School Children

Sedentarism is considered an independent cardiovascular risk factor. Thus, the present study investigated the effects of employing standing desks in classrooms on cognitive function. The intervention class (IG; n = 19) was supplied with standing desks and balance pads for 11 weeks. The control class (CG; n = 19) received lessons as usual. Standing time was assessed objectively (accelerometers) and subjectively (self-report sheets, external classroom observers). The impact of standing on the digit span task and Eriksen flanker task was analysed. The standing time of the IG was higher during the school day in comparison to the CG (lesson: p = 0.004; break: p = 0.003). The intra-class correlation coefficient between self-reports and external observation was high (ICC = 0.94). The IG improved slightly on the Digit Span Task compared to CG. Employing standing desks for at least 1 h per school day serves as a feasible and effective opportunity to improve cognitive function.

RAAAF's office landscape The End of Sitting: Energy expenditure and temporary comfort when working in non-sitting postures

An earlier study suggested that the activity-inviting office landscape called “The End of Sitting”, designed by Rietveld Architecture Art Affordances (RAAAF), should be considered as an alternative working environment to prevent sedentary behavior. The End of Sitting lacks chairs and tables but consists instead of a myriad of sloped surfaces at different heights that afford workers to stand, lean or recline at different locations. In this study, we assessed the impact of four of its workspaces on physical intensity, temporary comfort and productivity of office work and compared the outcomes with sitting and standing behind a desk. Twenty-four participants worked for 10 minutes in each of the six test conditions. Energy expenditure, measured by indirect calorimetry, and heart rate were recorded. Questionnaires were used to assess the perceived comfort. The number of words found in the word search test was counted as a measure of productivity. The majority of The End of Sitting workspaces led to a significant increase in energy expenditure compared with sitting behind a desk (ps < .05). Average MET values ranged from 1.40 to 1.58 which is a modest rise in energy expenditure compared to sitting (1.32 METs) and not significantly different from standing (1.47 METs). The scores on the general comfort scale indicated that some workspaces were less comfortable than sitting (ps < .05), but the vast majority of participants reported that at least one of The End of Sitting workspaces was equally or more comfortable than sitting. No differences in productivity between the test conditions were found. Further long-term studies are required to assess the behavioral adaptations, productivity and the level of comfort when using The End of Sitting as a permanent office.

In-Class Cycling to Augment College Student Academic Performance and Reduce Physical Inactivity: Results from an RCT

Most college students sit 14 hours per week on average, excluding sedentary study time. Researchers observing workplace and elementary school settings with active workstations to combat sedentary behavior have shown enhanced cognition without distraction. Until now, incorporating active workstations in college classroom settings remained relatively unexplored. This study’s purpose was to assess academic performance using in-class stationary cycle desks during a semester-long lecture course. Twenty-one college students (19–24 years) enrolled in a lecture course volunteered and were split into traditional sit (SIT) and stationary cycle (CYC) groups randomly, matched on a calculated factor equal to a physical activity (PA) score (0–680) multiplied by grade point average (GPA; 4.0 scale). CYC pedaled a prescribed rate of perceived exertion (RPE) of less than 2 out of 10 during a 50-min lecture, 3 × week for 12 weeks. CYC averaged 42 min, 7.9 miles, and 1.7 RPE during class throughout the semester. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed between CYC and SIT on in-class test scores or overall course grades. Although statistically insignificant, CYC had higher mean test scores and overall course grades vs. SIT (i.e., B⁺ vs. B, respectively). Low intensity cycling during a college lecture course maintained student academic performance and possibly reduced weekly sedentary behavior time.

Decreasing Sedentary Behavior: Effects on Academic Performance, Meta-Cognition, and Sleep

There is growing interest in using activity workstations as a method of increasing light physical activity in normally sedentary environments. The current study (N = 117) compared the effects of studying in college students while slowly pedaling a stationary bike with a desktop with studying at traditional desks across 10 weeks in an academic semester. The students were assigned to study either on the stationary bike or at a traditional desk located in the campus library for a minimum of 2 h a week. During the 10 weeks, the students studied for tests or worked on other required academic activities while working at their assigned desk. In addition, the participants completed a pre survey, weekly surveys, and a post survey. We found that although students studying at the traditional desks reported more ease of studying and more effective studying than those using the stationary bikes, the two groups performed equally well on tests in an introductory psychology course. Moreover, the students using the traditional desks reported a decrease in sleep quality later in the semester while those using the activity workstation reported stable levels of sleep quality. The current results indicate that activity workstations could be implemented in university settings to encourage light physical activity without negatively affecting academic performance while providing possible long-term health and well-being benefits. Furthermore, the results suggests that activity workstations could be a means of combating sedentary behavior in environments where individuals are expected to sit either while waiting (e.g., doctor's waiting rooms, airports) or when completing a necessary task (e.g., the workplace, educational settings).

The potential of bike desks to reduce sedentary time in the office: a mixed-method study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the use of bike desks in an office setting and office workers' experiences of bike desks.

STUDY DESIGN

Mixed-method study; quantitative data of cycling desk use in combination with qualitative data of users' experience were obtained via questionnaires.

METHODS

Bike desks were provided in an office setting during a five-month period. The amount of cycled time, distance and the cycling intensity were registered. At the end of the intervention period, participants filled out a questionnaire about their experiences of cycling desks in the office.

RESULTS

Participants cycled for approximately 98 min/week. Most participants were very positive about their bike desk experience and almost all of them would continue using them. About one third of the participants experienced a positive effect on attention and work performance and for about two thirds it positively influenced their motivation during work. Furthermore, about half of the participants felt more energetic, more self-confident and perceived a positive effect on their health and lifestyle.

CONCLUSIONS

Providing bike desks in an office reduces office workers sedentary time. Furthermore, people experienced positive effects on several personal and work-related parameters. Therefore, providing bike desks in office settings seems to be a promising means to reduce sedentary time.

Who uses height-adjustable desks? - Sociodemographic, health-related, and psycho-social variables of regular users

BACKGROUND

Sit-to-stand height-adjustable desks (HAD) may promote workplace standing, as long as workers use them on a regular basis. The aim of this study was to investigate (i) how common HAD in German desk-based workers are, and how frequently HADs are used, (ii) to identify sociodemographic, health-related, and psycho-social variables of workday sitting including having a HAD, and (iii) to analyse sociodemographic, health-related, and psycho-social variables of users and non-users of HADs.

METHODS

A cross-sectional sample of 680 participants (51.9% men; 41.0 ± 13.1 years) in a desk-based occupation was interviewed by telephone about their occupational sitting and standing proportions, having and usage of a HAD, and answered questions concerning psycho-social variables of occupational sitting. The proportion of workday sitting was calculated for participants having an HAD (n = 108) and not-having an HAD (n = 573), as well as for regular users of HAD (n = 54), and irregular/non-users of HAD (n = 54). Linear regressions were conducted to calculate associations between socio-demographic, health-related, psychosocial variables and having/not having an HAD, and the proportion of workday sitting. Logistic regressions were executed to examine the association of mentioned variables and participants' usage of HADs.

RESULTS

Sixteen percent report that they have an HAD, and 50% of these report regular use of HAD. Having an HAD is not a correlate of the proportion of workday sitting. Further analysis restricted to participants having available a HAD highlights that only the 'perceived advantages of sitting less' was significantly associated with HAD use in the fully adjusted model (OR 1.75 [1.09; 2.81], p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings indicate that accompanying behavioral action while providing an HAD is promising to increase the regular usage of HAD. Hence, future research needs to address the specificity of behavioral actions in order to enhance regular HAD use, and needs to give more fundamental insights into these associations.

Engaging stakeholders and target groups in prioritising a public health intervention: the Creating Active School Environments (CASE) online Delphi study

OBJECTIVES

Stakeholder engagement and public involvement are considered as integral to developing effective public health interventions and is encouraged across all phases of the research cycle. However, limited guidelines and appropriate tools exist to facilitate stakeholder engagement-especially during the intervention prioritisation phase. We present the findings of an online 'Delphi' study that engaged stakeholders (including young people) in the process of prioritising secondary school environment-focused interventions that aim to increase physical activity.

SETTING

Web-based data collection using an online Delphi tool enabling participation of geographically diverse stakeholders.

PARTICIPANTS

37 stakeholders participated, including young people (age 13-16 years), parents, teachers, public health practitioners, academics and commissioners; 33 participants completed both rounds.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Participants were asked to prioritise a (short-listed) selection of school environment-focused interventions (eg, standing desks, outdoor design changes) based on the criteria of 'reach', 'equality', 'acceptability', 'feasibility', 'effectiveness' and 'cost'. Participants were also asked to rank the criteria and the effectiveness outcomes (eg, physical activity, academic achievement, school enjoyment) from most to least important. Following feedback along with any new information provided, participants completed round 2 4 weeks later.

RESULTS

The intervention prioritisation process was feasible to conduct and comments from participants indicated satisfaction with the process. Consensus regarding intervention strategies was achieved among the varied groups of stakeholders, with 'active lessons' being the favoured approach. Participants ranked 'mental health and well-being' as the most important outcome followed by 'enjoyment of school'. The most important criteria was 'effectiveness', followed by 'feasibility'.

CONCLUSIONS

This novel approach to engaging a wide variety of stakeholders in the research process was feasible to conduct and acceptable to participants. It also provided insightful information relating to how stakeholders prioritise interventions. The approach could be extended beyond the specific project to be a useful tool for researchers and practitioners.

Cycling on a Bike Desk Positively Influences Cognitive Performance

Purpose

Cycling desks as a means to reduce sedentary time in the office has gained interest as excessive sitting has been associated with several health risks. However, the question rises if people will still be as efficient in performing their desk-based office work when combining this with stationary cycling. Therefore, the effect of cycling at 30% Wmax on typing, cognitive performance and brain activity was investigated.

Methods

After two familiarisation sessions, 23 participants performed a test battery [typing test, Rey auditory verbal learning test (RAVLT), Stroop test and Rosvold continuous performance test (RCPT)] with electroencephalography recording while cycling and sitting on a conventional chair.

Results

Typing performance, performance on the RAVLT and accuracy on the Stroop test and the RCPT did not differ between conditions. Reaction times on the Stroop test and the RCPT were shorter while cycling relative to sitting (p < 0.05). N200, P300, N450 and conflict SP latency and amplitude on the Stroop test and N200 and P300 on the RCPT did not differ between conditions.

Conclusions

This study showed that typing performance and short-term memory are not deteriorated when people cycle at 30% Wmax. Furthermore, cycling had a positive effect on response speed across tasks requiring variable amounts of attention and inhibition.