1. Long-term effects of sit-stand workstations on workplace sitting: A natural experiment
- Author
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Wenfei Zhu, Anna Park Stella, Matthew P. Buman, Kevin F. Buman, Monica Gutierrez, Sarah L. Mullane, Randolph Diemar, and Meynard John L. Toledo
- Subjects
Adult ,Blood Glucose ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Natural experiment ,Posture ,Blood Pressure ,Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation ,Efficiency ,Health Promotion ,Intervention group ,Sitting ,Office workers ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Humans ,Insulin ,Medicine ,Orthopedics and Sports Medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Workplace ,Exercise ,Productivity ,Occupational Health ,Work productivity ,business.industry ,Human factors and ergonomics ,030229 sport sciences ,Middle Aged ,Lipids ,Term (time) ,Physical therapy ,Female ,business - Abstract
Objective Sit-stand workstations may result in significant reductions in workplace sitting. However, few studies have examined long-term maintenance under real-world conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate workplace sitting time, cardio-metabolic biomarkers, and work productivity during a workplace re-design which included the installation of sit-stand workstations. Design Natural experiment with appropriately matched comparison. Methods Office workers from distinct worksites in the same unit were recruited (Intervention, n = 24; Comparison, n = 12). Intervention arm participants received a sit-stand workstation and 4 months of sitting-specific motivational support. The comparison arm received 4 months of ergonomic focused motivational support. Time spent in sitting, standing, and other physical activity were measured by activPAL3c for a week. Cardio-metabolic biomarkers and work productivity were also measured. Assessments occurred at baseline, 4 months, and 18 months. Results At 4 months, work sitting time was reduced by 56.7 ± 89.1 min/8 h workday (d = −0.64), relative to comparison. Standing time (37.4 ± 69.2 min/8 h workday; d = 0.54) and sit-to-stand transitions (3.3 ± 0.4 min/8 h workday, d = 0.44) were also improved relative to comparison. At 18 months, work sitting time reductions (52.6 ± 68.3 min/8 h workday; d = −0.77) and standing time improvements (17.7 ± 54.8 min/8 h workday, d = 0.32) were maintained in the intervention group relative to comparison. Cardio-metabolic and work productivity changes were mixed; however, strongest effects favoring the intervention group were observed at 18 months. Conclusions Sit-stand workstations, accompanied with behavioral support, were effective in reducing workplace and overall daily sitting and increasing standing time in a real-world setting. The effect appears to have been sustained for 18 months, with mixed results in cardio-metabolic and productivity outcomes.
- Published
- 2018
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