Published on
Updated
Reading 2 min.
It is well known that sitting too long is harmful. But at work, it is not always easy to break away from a sedentary lifestyle. However, it is not only about your health but also your productivity, as revealed by a study published in the journal IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors.
A research team from Texas A&M University looked at the effects of a sedentary lifestyle on office workers. Because office workers sit for most of their eight-hour workdays, it’s not uncommon for them to suffer from symptoms resulting from physical inactivity, such as daytime exhaustion, high blood pressure, and musculoskeletal pain.
To protect their employees, companies are equipping themselves with alternative furniture, including desks that are halfway between a sitting and standing position. But are they really effective in preventing the onset of health problems linked to a sedentary lifestyle?
To answer this question, the authors of the study followed 79 full-time office workers at a large university. They divided the volunteers into three groups based on the workstation they used (traditional, sit-stand, or standing). The researchers collected demographic data on the participants and information on how they used office equipment, such as footrests, articulated computer monitor arms, keyboard trays, and anti-fatigue mats. At the same time, the scientists measured their levels of physical activity and productivity.
The academics found, unsurprisingly, that participants who didn’t sit in a chair for long periods were in better shape than those who didn’t. Their bodies were put under less strain throughout their workday: only 51.7% of the group using “standing” desks complained of lower back pain, compared to 80% of those working seated. These volunteers also tended to expend more energy than the others, and therefore were more physically active.
When it came to productivity, the researchers didn’t find any significant differences between the groups. In other words, people worked just as well when they were standing as when they were sitting. “Ultimately, health risk factors associated with sedentary work can be mitigated through alternative desks, such as sit-stand or standing workstations,” said Kaysey Aguilar, co-author of the study in a statement. “These are win-win solutions, as they benefit the health of workers while maintaining the high level of productivity expected by employers.“.
Slideshow: Yoga in the office: 6 exercises to feel good at work with the Yogist method