title: Evaluation of sit-stand workstations in an office setting: a randomised controlled trial Comparisons of Musculoskeletal Complaints and Data Entry Between a Sitting and a Sit-Stand Workstation Paradigm Cognitive and Typing Outcomes Measured Simultaneously with Slow Treadmill Walking or Sitting: Implications for Treadmill Desks Workplace sitting and height-adjustable workstations: a randomized controlled trial. Computer terminal work and the benefit of microbreaks. Low back joint loading and kinematics during standing and unsupported sitting Breaking up workplace sitting time with intermittent standing bouts improves fatigue and musculoskeletal discomfort in overweight/obese office workers Impact of a Sit-Stand Workstation on Chronic Low Back Pain: Results of a Randomized Trial
abstract: 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 Background : Seated working positions are often regarded as a cause for discomfort in the musculoskeletal system . Performing work in different working positions — that is , alternating between sitting and st and ing ( sit-st and workstation paradigm)—could help reduce physical complaints . Objective : The questions were whether performing office work partly in a st and ing position leads to reduced complaints and whether st and ing would change the efficiency of data entry office work . Method : We investigated the effect of a sit-st and workstation paradigmd during experimental data entry office work on physical and psychological complaints and data entry efficiency by conducting a r and omized controlled trial with 60 male participants ages 18 to 35 years . Results : In this experiment , musculoskeletal complaints were reduced by a sit-st and workstation paradigm . A trend could be identified indicating a small but nonsignificant loss of efficiency in data entry while st and ing . Conclusion : A sit-st and workstation paradigm reduces musculoskeletal complaints without considerably affecting data entry efficiency under the presented study conditions ( young male participants , short duration , fixed and controlled sit-st and workstation paradigm , simulated experimental working condition ) . Application : According to the present data , implementing a sit-st and workstation paradigm can be an effective workplace health intervention to reduce musculoskeletal complaints . This experiment encourages further studies on the effectiveness of a sit-st and workstation paradigm . Experimental research and field studies that prove the reduction of complaints when introducing a sit-st and workstation paradigm in the workplace could be the basis for evidence -based recommendations regarding such interventions Purpose This study compared cognitive ( attention , learning , and memory ) and typing outcomes during  slow treadmill walking or sitting .  Seventy-five healthy individuals were r and omly assigned to a  treadmill walking group ( n=37 ; 23 female ) or  sitting group ( n=38 ; 17 female ) . Methods The  treadmill walking  group completed a series of tests while walking at 1.5 mph . The sitting group performed the same tests while sitting at a st and ard desk . Tests performed by both groups included : the  Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test  and a modified version of the  Paced Auditory Serial Attention Test . In addition , typing performance was evaluated . Results Participants in the treadmill walking group performed worse on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test for total learning than the sitting group ; the main effect was significant ( F(1,73)=4.75 , p=0.03 , η p 2=0.06 ) ; however , short- and long-delay recall performance did not differ between groups ( p>0.05 ) . For the Paced Auditory Serial Attention Test , total number of correct responses was lower in the treadmill walking group relative to the sitting group ; the main effect was significant ( F(1,73)=4.97 , p=0.03 , η p 2=0.06 ) . The performance of both groups followed the same learning slope ( Group x Trial interactions were not significant ) for the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test and Paced Auditory Serial Attention Test . Individuals in the treadmill walking group performed significantly worse for all measures of typing ( p<0.05 ) . Conclusion Walking on a treadmill desk may result in a modest difference in total learning and typing outcomes relative to sitting , but those declines may not outweigh the benefit of the physical activity gains from walking on a treadmill BACKGROUND Desk-based office employees sit for most of their working day . To address excessive sitting as a newly identified health risk , best practice frameworks suggest a multi-component approach . However , these approaches are re source intensive and knowledge about their impact is limited . PURPOSE To compare the efficacy of a multi-component intervention to reduce workplace sitting time , to a height-adjustable workstations-only intervention , and to a comparison group ( usual practice ) . DESIGN Three-arm quasi-r and omized controlled trial in three separate administrative units of the University of Queensl and , Brisbane , Australia . Data were collected between January and June 2012 and analyzed the same year . SETTING / PARTICIPANTS Desk-based office workers aged 20 - 65 ( multi-component intervention , n=16 ; workstations-only , n=14 ; comparison , n=14 ) . INTERVENTION The multi-component intervention comprised installation of height-adjustable workstations and organizational-level ( management consultation , staff education , manager e-mails to staff ) and individual-level ( face-to-face coaching , telephone support ) elements . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Workplace sitting time ( minutes/8-hour workday ) assessed objective ly via activPAL3 devices worn for 7 days at baseline and 3 months ( end-of-intervention ) . RESULTS At baseline , the mean proportion of workplace sitting time was approximately 77 % across all groups ( multi-component group 366 minutes/8 hours [ SD=49 ] ; workstations-only group 373 minutes/8 hours [ SD=36 ] , comparison 365 minutes/8 hours [ SD=54 ] ) . Following intervention and relative to the comparison group , workplace sitting time in the multi-component group was reduced by 89 minutes/8-hour workday ( 95 % CI=-130 , -47 minutes ; p<0.001 ) and 33 minutes in the workstations-only group ( 95 % CI=-74 , 7 minutes , p=0.285 ) . CONCLUSIONS A multi-component intervention was successful in reducing workplace sitting . These findings may have important practical and financial implication s for workplaces targeting sitting time reductions . CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION Australian New Zeal and Clinical Trials Registry 00363297 Microbreaks are scheduled rest breaks taken to prevent the onset or progression of cumulative trauma disorders in the computerized workstation environment . The authors examined the benefit of microbreaks by investigating myoelectric signal ( MES ) behavior , perceived discomfort , and worker productivity while individuals performed their usual keying work . Participants were r and omly assigned to one of three experimental groups . Each participant provided data from working sessions where they took no breaks , and from working sessions where they took breaks according to their group assignment : microbreaks at their own discretion ( control ) , microbreaks at 20 min intervals , and microbreaks at 40 min intervals . Four main muscle areas were studied : the cervical extensors , the lumbar erector spinae , the upper trapezius/supraspinatus , and the wrist and finger extensors . The authors have previously shown that when computer workers remained seated at their workstation , the muscles performing sustained postural contractions displayed a cyclic trend in the mean frequency ( MNF ) of the MES ( McLean et al. , J. Electrophysiol . Kinesiol . 10 ( 1 ) ( 2000 ) 33 ) . The data provided evidence ( p < 0.05 ) that all microbreak protocol s were associated with a higher frequency of MNF cycling at the wrist extensors , at the neck when microbreaks were taken by the control and 40 min protocol groups , and at the back when breaks were taken by the 20 and 40 min protocol groups . No significant change in the frequency of MNF cycling was noted at the shoulder . It was determined ( p < 0.05 ) that microbreaks had a positive effect on reducing discomfort in all areas studied during computer terminal work , particularly when breaks were taken at 20 min intervals . Finally , microbreaks showed no evidence of a detrimental effect on worker productivity . The underlying cause of MNF cycling , and its relationship to the development of discomfort or cumulative trauma disorders remains to be determined The aim was to examine lumbar spine kinematics , spinal joint loads and trunk muscle activation patterns during a prolonged ( 2 h ) period of sitting .  This information is necessary to assist the ergonomist in design ing work where posture variation is possible — particularly between st and ing and various styles of  sitting  . Joint loads were predicted with a highly detailed anatomical biomechanical model ( that incorporated 104 muscles , passive ligaments and intervertebral discs ) , which utilized biological signals of spine posture and muscle electromyograms ( EMG ) from each trial of each subject . Sitting result ed in significantly higher ( p < 0.001 ) low back compressive loads ( mean±SD 1698±467 N ) than those experienced by the lumbar spine during st and ing ( 1076±243 N ) . Subjects were equally divided into adopting one of two sitting strategies : a single ‘ static ’ or a ‘ dynamic ’ multiple posture approach . Within each individual , st and ing produced a distinctly diVerent spine posture compared with sitting , and st and ing spine postures did not overlap with flexion postures adopted in sitting when spine postures were averaged across all eight subjects . A rest component ( as noted in an amplitude probability distribution function from the EMG ) was present for all muscles monitored in both sitting and st and ing tasks . The upper and lower erector spinae muscle groups exhibited a shifting to higher levels of activation during sitting . There were no clear muscle activation level diVerences in the individuals who adopted diVerent sitting strategies . St and ing appears to be a good rest from sitting given the reduction in passive tissue forces . However , the constant loading with little dynamic movement which characterizes both st and ing and sitting would provide little rest/change for muscular activation levels or low back loading Objectives To examine whether the introduction of intermittent st and ing bouts during the workday using a height-adjustable workstation can improve subjective levels of fatigue , musculoskeletal discomfort and work productivity relative to seated work . Methods Overweight/obese office workers ( n=23 ; age 48.2±7.9 years , body mass index 29.6±4 kg/m2 ) undertook two , 5-day experimental conditions in an equal , r and omised ( 1:1 ) order . In a simulated office environment , participants performed their usual occupational tasks for 8 h/day in a : seated work posture ( SIT condition ) ; or interchanging between a st and ing and seated work posture every 30 min using an electric , height-adjustable workstation ( ST AND -SIT condition ) . Self-administered question naires measuring fatigue , musculoskeletal discomfort and work productivity were performed on day 5 of each experimental condition . Results Participants ’ total fatigue score was significantly higher during the SIT condition ( mean 67.8 ( 95 % CI 58.8 to 76.7 ) ) compared with the ST AND -SIT condition ( 52.7 ( 43.8 to 61.5 ) ; p<0.001 ) . Lower back musculoskeletal discomfort was significantly reduced during the ST AND -SIT condition compared with the SIT condition ( 31.8 % reduction ; p=0.03 ) . Despite concentration/focus being significantly higher during the SIT condition ( p=0.006 ) , there was a trend towards improved overall work productivity in favour of the ST AND -SIT condition ( p=0.053 ) . Conclusions Transitioning from a seated to a st and ing work posture every 30 min across the workday , relative to seated work , led to a significant reduction in fatigue levels and lower back discomfort in overweight/obese office workers , while maintaining work productivity . Future investigations should be directed at underst and ing whether sustained use of height-adjustable workstations promote concentration and productivity at work . Trial Registration Number ACTRN12611000632998 Objective : The aim of the study was to determine whether  chronic low back pain ( LBP ) might be attenuated through the introduction of a sit-st and workstation ( SSW ) in office employees . Methods : Participants were r and omized to receive a SSW at the beginning or at the end of a 3-month study period . Participants responded to a short survey at the end of each workday and a comprehensive survey at weeks 1 , 6 , and 12 . Surveys consisted of a modified brief pain inventory and the Rol and Morris Disability Question naire . Results : Forty-six university employees with self-reported chronic LBP were enrolled . Participants who were given access to a SSW reported a significant reduction in current ( P = 0.02 ) and worst ( P = 0.04 ) LBP over time . Conclusions : Our findings support the hypothesis that chronic LBP might be improved by the introduction of a SSW in an office environment
target: Conclusion : sit-st and workstations may reduce low back pain  among workers .
  Practitioner Summary : In a sedentary population , changing posture may reduce the chance of developing low back pain .
background: Abstract Background : Sit-st and workstations are proposed solutions to reduce sedentary time at work .
  Numerous companies are using them to mitigate health concerns such as musculoskeletal discomfort .
  Objective : To review the literature on sit-st and workstations and low back discomfort .