Exercise While You Work? The Research on Treadmill Desks: Advantages and Disadvantages
We all lead busy lives; wouldn’t it be great to get your exercise in while you work?
Maybe treadmill desks are the answer…
The Advantages:
- Increased calorie burn: A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found a mean increase of 119 calories per hour (equivalent to approximately one tablespoon of peanut butter) when walking on a treadmill while working when compared to sitting and working. This could help you maintain a healthy weight.
- Increased memory: A study in Computers in Human Behavior found that immediately following treadmill desk use, attention and memory improved. Neurophysiological measures demonstrated augmented attention and memory after walking.
- Improved psychological health: A study in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found that participants with walking workstations experienced higher levels of satisfaction and arousal, with less boredom and stress compared to participants at seated, standing and cycling workstations.
The Disadvantages:
- High cost: Employers spending $2000+ on a desk that has long term health benefits is understandable, but employers spending the same amount on a desk that may only be used for a brief time or inconsistently is not a smart choice. If employees aren’t committed to walking while working, treadmill desks can become dust collectors.
- Injury risk: With physical activity comes the risk of hurting yourself. Most users do not walk very fast while working but there is always the risk someone may lose their balance and fall while using it.
- Reduced cognitive performance: One study found the use of treadmill desks resulted in modestly lower performance during some cognitive tasks and fine-motor skill results when compared to people who were sitting. Additional research is needed to see if individuals can, over time, adapt better to working while walking.
Things to keep in mind if you are considering purchasing treadmill desks for your employees…
The benefit of burning an extra 119 calories per hour while working is great. However, this can only happen if your employees are committed to walking while working.
If your employees have expressed some interest in trying a treadmill desk, purchase one and set it up in a communal area where employees can plug in for an hour or two at a time. This is a cost-effective way of identifying who in your team is invested in using the desk. This can then save on budget by only purchasing desks for those individuals who are committed to its use.
It’s important to keep in mind that the treadmill desk will not replace the need for regular exercise. The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines recommend adults get 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity per week. Brisk walking is considered moderate exercise. It’s difficult to achieve a brisk pace while working and maintaining productivity.
Research has not found any significant cognitive decline when using a treadmill desk when compared to sitting. This decline does not seem to outweigh the benefit of being physically active while working.
Proper ergonomic set up while walking is very important. The keyboard, mouse and monitor need to be positioned at the correct working height and distance for the individual. It doesn’t matter if you’re sitting, standing or walking, ergonomics is equally important in all three scenarios.
Contact Apex to learn more about our workstation health programs and ergonomics education. Take the next step to provide your employees with the tools they need to stay healthy at their workstation!
References:
- Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology – Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults
- Sliter, Michael; Yuan, Zhenyu. Workout at work: Laboratory test of psychological and performance outcomes of active workstations. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Vol 20(2), Apr 2015, 259-271. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0038175
- Labonté-Lemoyne, Elise., Santhanam, R., Léger, P., Courtemanche, F., Fredette, M., & Sénécal, S. (2015). The delayed effect of td usage on recall and attention. Computers in Human Behavior, 46, 1-5. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2014.12.054
- Larson MJ, LeCheminant JD, Hill K, Carbine K, Masterson T, Christenson E (2015) Cognitive and Typing Outcomes Measured Simultaneously with Slow Treadmill Walking or Sitting: Implications for Treadmill Desks. PLoS ONE 10(4): e0121309. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0121309
- , The energy expenditure of using a “walk-and-work” desk for office workers with obesity.