Total Worker Health Intervention Increases Activity of Sedentary Workers. Increasing physical activity in office workers – the Inphact Treadmill study; a study protocol for a 13-month randomized controlled trial of treadmill workstations Participatory Workplace Interventions Can Reduce Sedentary Time for Office Workers—A Randomised Controlled Trial Sit-Stand Desks To Reduce Workplace Sitting Time In Office Workers With Abdominal Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Reducing office workers’ sitting time: rationale and study design for the Stand Up Victoria cluster randomized trial Medium-term effects of a two-desk sit/stand workstation on cognitive performance and workload for healthy people performing sedentary work: a secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial Using Sit-Stand Workstations to Decrease Sedentary Time in Office Workers: A Randomized Crossover Trial Providing NHS staff with height-adjustable workstations and behaviour change strategies to reduce workplace sitting time: protocol for the Stand More AT (SMArT) Work cluster randomised controlled trial Implementation and adherence issues in a workplace treadmill desk intervention. An intervention to reduce sitting and increase light-intensity physical activity at work: Design and rationale of the 'Stand & Move at Work' group randomized trial. A randomised control trial of the cognitive effects of working in a seated as opposed to a standing position in office workers Evaluation of ergonomic and education interventions to reduce occupational sitting in office-based university workers: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial The effect of a sit-stand workstation intervention on daily sitting, standing and physical activity: protocol for a 12 month workplace randomised control trial Evaluation of sit-stand workstations in an office setting: a randomised controlled trial
INTRODUCTION Office employees are exposed to hazardous levels of sedentary work . Interventions that integrate health promotion and health protection elements are needed to advance the health of sedentary workers . This study tested an integrated intervention on occupational sedentary/physical activity behaviors , cardiometabolic disease biomarkers , musculoskeletal discomfort , and work productivity . DESIGN Two-group , RCT . Data were collected between January and August 2014 . SETTING / PARTICIPANTS Overweight/obese adults working in sedentary desk jobs were r and omized to : ( 1 ) a health protection-only group ( HPO , n=27 ) ; or ( 2 ) an integrated health protection/health promotion group ( HP/HP , n=27 ) . INTERVENTION HPO participants received an ergonomic workstation optimization intervention and three e-mails/week promoting rest breaks and posture variation . HP/HP participants received the HPO intervention plus access to a seated activity permissive workstation . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Occupational sedentary and physical activity behaviors ( primary outcomes ) , cardiometabolic health outcomes , musculoskeletal discomfort , and work productivity ( secondary outcomes ) were measured at baseline and post-intervention ( 16 weeks ) . RESULTS The HP/HP group increased occupational light intensity physical activity over the HPO group and used the activity permissive workstations 50 minutes/work day . Significant associations were observed between activity permissive workstation adherence and improvements in several cardiometabolic biomarkers ( weight , total fat mass , resting heart rate , body fat percentage ) and work productivity outcomes ( concentration at work , days missed because of health problems ) . CONCLUSIONS The HP/HP group increased occupational physical activity and greater activity permissive workstation adherence was associated with improved health and work productivity outcomes . These findings are important for employers interested in advancing the well-being of sedentary office workers . TRIAL REGISTRATION This study is registered at www . clinical trials.gov NCT02071420 Background Sedentary behaviour is an independent risk factor for mortality and morbidity , especially for type 2 diabetes . Since office work is related to long periods that are largely sedentary , it is of major importance to find ways for office workers to engage in light intensity physical activity ( LPA ) . The Inphact Treadmill study aims to investigate the effects of installing treadmill workstations in offices compared to conventional workstations . Methods / Design A two-arm , 13-month , r and omized controlled trial ( RCT ) will be conducted . Healthy overweight and obese office workers ( n = 80 ) with mainly sedentary tasks will be recruited from office workplaces in Umeå , Sweden . The intervention group will receive a health consultation and a treadmill desk , which they will use for at least one hour per day for 13 months . The control group will receive the same health consultation , but continue to work at their regular workstations .  Physical activity and sedentary time during workdays and non-workdays as well as during working and non-working hours on workdays will be measured objective ly using accelerometers ( Actigraph and activPAL ) at baseline and after 2 , 6 , 10 , and 13 months of follow-up . Food intake will be recorded and metabolic and anthropometric variables , body composition , stress , pain , depression , anxiety , cognitive function , and functional magnetic resonance imaging will be measured at 3–5 time points during the study period . Interviews with participants from the intervention group will be performed at the end of the study . Discussion This will be the first long-term RCT on the effects of treadmill workstations on objective ly measured physical activity and sedentary time as well as other body functions and structures/morphology during working and non-working hours among office workers . This will provide further insight on the effects of active workstations on our health and could fill in some of the knowledge gaps regarding how we can reduce sedentary time in office environments . Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov Identifier NCT01997970 , 2nd Nov 2013 Background Occupational sedentary behaviour is an important contributor to overall sedentary risk . There is limited evidence for effective workplace interventions to reduce occupational sedentary time and increase light activity during work hours . The purpose of the study was to determine if participatory workplace interventions could reduce total sedentary time , sustained sedentary time ( bouts > 30 minutes ) , increase the frequency of breaks in sedentary time and promote light intensity activity and moderate/vigorous activity ( MVPA ) during work hours . Methods A r and omised controlled trial ( ANZCTR number : ACTN12612000743864 ) was conducted using clerical , call centre and data processing workers ( n = 62 , aged 25–59 years ) in 3 large government organisations in Perth , Australia . Three groups developed interventions with a participatory approach : ‘ Active office ’ ( n = 19 ) , ‘ Active Workstation ’ and promotion of incidental office activity ; ‘ Traditional physical activity ’ ( n = 14 ) , pedometer challenge to increase activity between productive work time and ‘ Office ergonomics ’ ( n = 29 ) , computer workstation design and breaking up computer tasks . Accelerometer ( ActiGraph GT3X , 7 days ) determined sedentary time , sustained sedentary time , breaks in sedentary time , light intensity activity and MVPA on work days and during work hours were measured before and following a 12 week intervention period . Results For all participants there was a significant reduction in sedentary time on work days ( −1.6 % , p = 0.006 ) and during work hours ( −1.7 % , p = 0.014 ) and a significant increase in number of breaks/sedentary hour on work days ( 0.64 , p = 0.005 ) and during work hours ( 0.72 , p = 0.015 ) ; there was a concurrent significant increase in light activity during work hours ( 1.5 % , p = 0.012 ) and MVPA on work days ( 0.6 % , p = 0.012 ) . Conclusions This study explored novel ways to modify work practice s to reduce occupational sedentary behaviour . Participatory workplace interventions can reduce sedentary time , increase the frequency of breaks and improve light activity and MVPA of office workers by using a variety of interventions . Trial Registration Australian New Zeal and Clinical Trials Registry ACTN12612000743864 BACKGROUND Sit-st and desks reduce workplace sitting time among healthy office workers ; however , their metabolic and behavioral impact in higher risk population s remains unknown . METHODS 25 office workers with abdominal obesity were r and omized to an intervention ( sit-st and workstation ) or control group ( seated desk ) for 12 weeks . Physical activity , sedentary behavior , and cardiometabolic risk factors were assessed before and after the intervention period in both groups . RESULTS In comparison with the control group , which did not change , the intervention group experienced significant reductions in workday ( 344 ± 107 to 186 ± 101 min/day ) and total ( 645 ± 140 to 528 ± 91 min/day ) sitting time , as well as increases in workday st and ing time ( 154 ± 108 to 301 ± 101 min/day , P < .05 ) . There were no changes in sitting or st and ing time outside of work hours , steps taken each day , or any marker of cardiometabolic risk in either group ( all P > .05 ) . CONCLUSION Sit-st and desks were effective in reducing workplace sedentary behavior in an at-risk population , with no change in sedentary behavior or physical activity outside of work hours . However , these changes were not sufficient to improve markers of cardiometabolic risk in this population Background Excessive time spent in sedentary behaviours ( sitting or lying with low energy expenditure ) is associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes , cardiovascular disease and some cancers . Desk-based office workers typically accumulate high amounts of daily sitting time , often in prolonged unbroken bouts . The St and Up Victoria study aims to determine whether a 3-month multi-component intervention in the office setting reduces workplace sitting , particularly prolonged , unbroken sitting time , and results in improvements in cardio-metabolic biomarkers and work-related outcomes , compared to usual practice . Methods / Design A two-arm cluster-r and omized controlled trial ( RCT ) , with worksites as the unit of r and omization , will be conducted in 16 worksites located in Victoria , Australia . Work units from one organisation ( Department of Human Services , Australian Government ) will be allocated to either the multi-component intervention ( organisational , environmental [ height-adjustable workstations ] , and individual behavioural strategies ) or to a usual practice control group . The recruitment target is 160 participants ( office-based workers aged 18–65 years and working at least 0.6 full time equivalent ) per arm . At each assessment ( 0- [ baseline ] , 3- [ post intervention ] , and 12-months [ follow-up ] ) , objective measurement via the activPAL3 activity monitor will be used to assess workplace : sitting time ( primary outcome ) ; prolonged sitting time ( sitting time accrued in bouts of ≥30 minutes ) ; st and ing time ; sit-to-st and transitions ; and , moving time . Additional outcomes assessed will include : non-workplace activity ; cardio-metabolic biomarkers and health indicators ( including fasting glucose , lipids and insulin ; anthropometric measures ; blood pressure ; and , musculoskeletal symptoms ) ; and , work-related outcomes ( presenteeism , absenteeism , productivity , work performance ) . Incremental cost-effectiveness and identification of both workplace and individual-level mediators and moderators of change will also be evaluated . Discussion St and Up Victoria will be the first cluster- RCT to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-component intervention aim ed at reducing prolonged workplace sitting in office workers . Strengths include the objective measurement of activity and assessment of the intervention on markers of cardio-metabolic health . Health- and work-related benefits , as well as the cost-effectiveness of the intervention , will help to inform future occupational practice .Trial registration Abstract Implementing sit/st and workstations in sedentary work environments is a common way to reduce sedentary time , but their medium-term effect on cognitive performance is unclear . To address this circumstance , eighteen office workers participated in a two-arm , r and omised controlled cross-over trial ( Clinical Trials.gov Identifier : NCT02825303 ) , either working at a traditional ( sit ) or an interventional ( sit/st and ) workplace for 23 weeks . Cognitive performance ( working speed , reaction time , concentration performance , accuracy ) , workload and relevant covariates ( salivary cortisol level , heart rate , physical activity , sitting time ) were measured pre- and post-intervention under laboratory conditions . MANOVA and RMANOVA results did not show differences in performance parameters and workload , respectively , between sit/st and and traditional workplace users . Differences in text editing accuracy and cortisol levels for sit/st and workstation users indicate potential connectivity to cognitive parameters which should be further examined with large-scale studies . Practitioner summary : Medium-term effects of working at sit/st and workstations on cognitive performance and workload are unexplored . This r and omised controlled trial suggests that cognitive performance and workload are unaffected for sit/st and workstation users after 23 weeks of use . However , accuracy appeared to improve and physiological stress appeared to be altered . Abbreviations : BMI : body mass index ; IPAQ : International physical activity question naire ; MET : metabolic equivalent of task ; MANOVA : multivariate ANOVA ; NASA TLX : NASA task load index ; RMANOVA : repeated measures ANOVA GRAPHICAL Objective : This study was conducted to determine whether installation of sit-st and desks ( SSDs ) could lead to decreased sitting time during the workday among sedentary office workers . Methods : A r and omized cross-over trial was conducted from January to April , 2012 at a business in Minneapolis . 28 ( nine men , 26 full-time ) sedentary office workers took part in a 4 week intervention period which included the use of SSDs to gradually replace 50 % of sitting time with st and ing during the workday .  Physical activity was the primary outcome . Mood , energy level , fatigue , appetite , dietary intake , and productivity were explored as secondary outcomes . Results : The intervention reduced sitting time at work by 21 % ( 95 % CI 18%–25 % ) and sedentary time by 4.8 min/work-hr ( 95 % CI 4.1–5.4 min/work-hr ) . For a 40 h work-week , this translates into replacement of 8 h of sitting time with st and ing and sedentary time being reduced by 3.2 h. Activity level during non-work hours did not change . The intervention also increased overall sense of well-being , energy , decreased fatigue , had no impact on productivity , and reduced appetite and dietary intake . The workstations were popular with the participants . Conclusion : The SSD intervention was successful in increasing work-time activity level , without changing activity level during non-work hours Background High levels of sedentary behaviour ( i.e. , sitting ) are a risk factor for poor health . With high levels of sitting widespread in desk-based office workers , office workplaces are an appropriate setting for interventions aim ed at reducing sedentary behaviour . This paper describes the development processes and proposed intervention procedures of St and More AT ( SMArT ) Work , a multi-component r and omised control ( RCT ) trial which aims to reduce occupational sitting time in desk-based office workers within the National Health Service ( NHS ) . Methods / Design SMArT Work consists of 2 phases : 1 ) intervention development : The development of the SMArT Work intervention takes a community-based participatory research approach using the Behaviour Change Wheel . Focus groups will collect detailed information to gain a better underst and ing of the most appropriate strategies , to sit alongside the provision of height-adjustable workstations , at the environmental , organisational and individual level that support less occupational sitting . 2 ) intervention delivery and evaluation : The 12 month cluster RCT aims to reduce workplace sitting in the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust . Desk-based office workers ( n = 238 ) will be r and omised to control or intervention clusters , with the intervention group receiving height-adjustable workstations and supporting techniques based on the feedback received from the development phase . Data will be collected at four time points ; baseline , 3 , 6 and 12 months . The primary outcome is a reduction in sitting time , measured by the activPALTM micro at 12 months . Secondary outcomes include objective ly measured physical activity and a variety of work-related health and psycho-social measures . A process evaluation will also take place . Discussion This study will be the first long-term , evidence -based , multi-component cluster RCT aim ed at reducing occupational sitting within the NHS . This study will help form a better underst and ing and knowledge base of facilitators and barriers to creating a healthier work environment and contribute to health and wellbeing policy . Trial registration IS RCT N10967042 . Registered 2 February 2015 We report experiences , observations , and general lessons learned , specifically with regards to participant recruitment and adherence , while implementing a 6-month r and omized controlled treadmill desk intervention ( the WorkStation Pilot Study ) in a real-world office-based health insurance workplace . Despite support from the company 's upper administration , relatively few employees responded to the company-generated e-mail to participate in the study . Ultimately only 41 overweight/obese participants were deemed eligible and enrolled from a recruitment pool of 728 workers . Participants allocated to the Treadmill Desk Group found the  treadmill desk difficult to use for 45 min twice a day as scheduled . Overall attendance averaged 45%-50 % of all possible scheduled sessions . The most frequently reported reasons for missing sessions included work conflict ( 35 % ) , out of office ( 30 % ) , and illness/injury/drop-out ( 20 % ) . Although focus groups indicated consistently positive comments about treadmill desks , an apparent challenge was fitting a rigid schedule of shared use to an equally rigid and dem and ing work schedule punctuated with numerous tasks and obligations that could not easily be interrupted . Regardless , we documented that sedentary office workers average ∼43 min of light-intensity ( ∼2 METs ) treadmill walking daily in response to a scheduled , facilitated , and shared access workplace intervention . Workstation alternatives that combine computer-based work with light-intensity physical activity are a potential solution to health problems associated with excessive sedentary behavior ; however , there are numerous administrative , capital , and human re source challenges confronting employers considering providing treadmill desks to workers in a cost-effective and equitable manner BACKGROUND American workers spend 70 - 80 % of their time at work being sedentary . Traditional approaches to increase moderate-vigorous physical activity ( MVPA ) may be perceived to be harmful to productivity . Approaches that target reductions in sedentary behavior and /or increases in st and ing or light-intensity physical activity [ LPA ] may not interfere with productivity and may be more feasible to achieve through small changes accumulated throughout the workday METHODS / DESIGN : This group r and omized trial ( i.e. , cluster r and omized trial ) will test the relative efficacy of two sedentary behavior focused interventions in 24 worksites across two states ( N=720 workers ) . The MOVE+ intervention is a multilevel individual , social , environmental , and organizational intervention targeting increases in light-intensity physical activity in the workplace . The ST AND + intervention is the MOVE+ intervention with the addition of the installation and use of sit-st and workstations to reduce sedentary behavior and enhance light-intensity physical activity opportunities . Our primary outcome will be objective ly-measured changes in sedentary behavior and light-intensity physical activity over 12months , with additional process measures at 3months and longer-term sustainability outcomes at 24months . Our secondary outcomes will be a clustered cardiometabolic risk score ( comprised of fasting glucose , insulin , triglycerides , HDL-cholesterol , and blood pressure ) , workplace productivity , and job satisfaction DISCUSSION : This study will determine the efficacy of a multi-level workplace intervention ( including the use of a sit-st and workstation ) to reduce sedentary behavior and increase LPA and concomitant impact on cardiometabolic health , workplace productivity , and satisfaction . TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trials.gov Identifier : NCT02566317 ( date of registration : 10/1/2015 ) Abstract Sedentary behaviour is increasing and has been identified as a potential significant health risk , particularly for desk-based employees . The development of sit-st and workstations in the workplace is one approach to reduce sedentary behaviour . However , there is uncertainty about the effects of sit-st and workstations on cognitive functioning .  A sample of 36 university staff participated in a within-subjects r and omised control trial examining the effect of sitting vs. st and ing for one hour per day for five consecutive days on attention , information processing speed , short-term memory , working memory and task efficiency . The results of the study showed no statistically significant difference in cognitive performance or work efficiency between the sitting and st and ing conditions , with all effect sizes being small to very small ( all ds < .2 ) . This result suggests that the use of sit-st and workstations is not associated with a reduction in cognitive performance . Practitioner Summary : Although it has been reported that the use of sit-st and desks may help offset adverse health effects of prolonged sitting , there is scant evidence about changes in productivity . This r and omised control study showed that there was no difference between sitting and st and ing for one hour on cognitive function or task efficiency in university staff Background Prolonged sitting is a specific occupational hazard in office workers . There is growing evidence that prolonged sitting is detrimental to metabolic health . The aim of this study is to determine whether providing  office workers with education along with adjustable sit-st and workstations leads to reduction in sitting behavior . Methods / Design A r and omized control trial ( RCT ) with three groups ( one control group and two intervention groups ) will be conducted in an office workplace setting . The education intervention group will receive an education package that encourages reduction in sitting behaviors . The sit-st and desk intervention group will receive the same education package along with an adjustable sit-st and desk . Participants will be included in the study if they are currently employed in a full-time academic or administrative role that involves greater than 15 hours per week or greater than 4 hours per day computer-based work . Baseline data will include participant ’s age , gender , weight , height , smoking habit , employment position , level of education , and baseline self-reported leisure time physical activity . The primary outcome is the average daily sedentary time during work hours , measured by an accelerometer . Participant recruitment commenced in March 2013 and will be completed by December 2013 . Discussion This study will determine whether providing office workers with an adjustable sit-st and desk and individually targeted education , or education alone , is more effective in decreasing sitting behaviors than no intervention . Trial registration Australian New Zeal and Clinical Trials Registry : Background A lack of physical activity and excessive sitting can contribute to poor physical health and wellbeing . The high percentage of the UK adult population in employment , and the prolonged sitting associated with desk-based office-work , make these workplaces an appropriate setting for interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour and increase physical activity . This pilot study aims to determine the effect of an office-based sit-st and workstation intervention , compared with usual desk use , on daily sitting , st and ing and physical activity , and to examine the factors that underlie sitting , st and ing and physical activity , within and outside , the workplace . Methods / Design A r and omised control trial ( RCT ) comparing the effects of a sit-st and workstation only and a multi-component sit-st and workstation intervention , with usual desk-based working practice ( no sit-st and workstation ) will be conducted with office workers across two organisations , over a 12 month period ( N = 30 ) . The multicomponent intervention will comprise organisational , environmental and individual elements . Objective data will be collected at baseline , and after 2-weeks , 3-months , 6-months and 12-months of the intervention . Objective measures of sitting , st and ing , and physical activity will be made concurrently ( ActivPAL3 ™ and ActiGraph ( GT3X+ ) ) . Activity diaries , ethnographic participant observation , and interviews with participants and key organisational personnel will be used to elicit underst and ing of the influence of organisational culture on sitting , st and ing and physical activity behaviour in the workplace . Discussion This study will be the first long-term sit-st and workstation intervention study utilising an RCT design , and incorporating a comprehensive process evaluation . The study will generate an underst and ing of the factors that encourage and restrict successful implementation of sit-st and workstation interventions , and will help inform future occupational wellbeing policy and practice . Other strengths include the objective measurement of physical activity during both work and non-work hours . Trail registration Clinical trials.gov identifier NCT02172599 , 22nd June 2014 Background Excessive sitting time is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease mortality and morbidity independent of physical activity . This aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a sit-st and workstation on sitting time , and vascular , metabolic and musculoskeletal outcomes in office workers , and to investigate workstation acceptability and feasibility . Methods A two-arm , parallel-group , individually r and omised controlled trial was conducted in one organisation . Participants were asymptomatic full-time office workers aged ≥18 years . Each participant in the intervention arm had a sit-st and workstation installed on their workplace desk for 8 weeks . Participants in the control arm received no intervention . The primary outcome was workplace sitting time , assessed at 0 , 4 and 8 weeks by an ecological momentary assessment diary . Secondary behavioural , cardiometabolic and musculoskeletal outcomes were assessed . Acceptability and feasibility were assessed via question naire and interview . ANCOVA and magnitude-based inferences examined intervention effects relative to controls at 4 and 8 weeks . Participants and research ers were not blind to group allocation . Results Forty-seven participants were r and omised ( intervention n = 26 ; control n = 21 ) . Relative to the control group at 8 weeks , the intervention group had a beneficial decrease in sitting time ( −80.2 min/8-h workday ( 95 % CI = −129.0 , −31.4 ) ; p = 0.002 ) , increase in st and ing time ( 72.9 min/8-h workday ( 21.2 , 124.6 ) ; p = 0.007 ) and decrease in total cholesterol ( −0.40 mmol/L ( −0.79 , −0.003 ) ; p = 0.049 ) . No harmful changes in musculoskeletal discomfort/pain were observed relative to controls , and beneficial changes in flow-mediated dilation and diastolic blood pressure were observed . Most participants self-reported that the workstation was easy to use and their work-related productivity did not decrease when using the device . Factors that negatively influenced workstation use were workstation design , the social environment , work tasks and habits . ConclusionS hort-term use of a feasible sit-st and workstation reduced daily sitting time and led to beneficial improvements in cardiometabolic risk parameters in asymptomatic office workers . These findings imply that if the observed use of the sit-st and workstations continued over a longer duration , sit-st and workstations may have important ramifications for the prevention and reduction of cardiometabolic risk in a large proportion of the working population .Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov NCT02496507
Non-significant changes were reported for most health- and work-related outcomes .
Findings suggest that activity-permissive workstations can be effective to reduce occupational sedentary time , without compromising work performance .
Excessive sedentary time is detrimentally linked to obesity , type 2 diabetes , cardiovascular disease and premature mortality .
Studies have been investigating the use of activity-permissive workstations to reduce sedentary time in office workers , a highly sedentary target group .
This review systematic ally summarizes the evidence for activity-permissive workstations on sedentary time , health-risk biomarkers , work performance and feasibility indicators in office workplaces .