Effects of a Workplace Sit-Stand Desk Intervention on Health and Productivity.

Jiameng Ma,Dongmei Ma,Hyunshik Kim,Zhi Li

doi:10.3390/ijerph182111604

Abstract

In Japan, standing while working has not yet become commonplace, and there is little evidence to support the benefits of standing during the workday. Therefore, this study assessed the relationship between the introduction of a sit–stand desk and its ability to reduce the negative effects of sitting too long and increase employees’ general health and productivity. Seventy-four Japanese desk workers participated in this three-month intervention study. Using a randomized controlled trial, the participants were divided into intervention (n = 36) and control (n = 38) groups. The participant characteristics were ascertained using a questionnaire. The intervention effectiveness was assessed by measuring health-, physical activity-, and work-related outcomes. The results indicate that the intervention group significantly decreased their sitting time at work (p = 0.002) and had reduced neck and shoulder pain (p = 0.001). There was a significant increase in subjective health (p = 0.002), vitality in work-related engagement (p < 0.001), and self-rated work performance over a four-week period (p = 0.017). These findings indicate a significant difference between the two groups, demonstrating the effectiveness of a sit–stand desk in reducing sedentary behavior and improving workers’ health and productivity. Future research can accumulate further evidence of best practice use of sit–stand desks.

Highlights

There were no significant differences between the intervention and control groups with respect to gender, age, educational background, and marital status
Group–time interaction between intervention and control groups had a significant difference in terms of work sitting time percentages (p = 0.044), subjective health (p = 0.034), neck and shoulder pain (p = 0.018), vitality in work-related work engagement (p = 0.010), and self-assessments of work performance over a four-week period (p = 0.034)
The intervention group’s gait, light physical activity, and moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) demonstrated no change before or after the intervention, which suggests that a sit–stand desk was used during their reduced sitting activity time

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Many studies have demonstrated that prolonged sedentary behavior (SB) increases health risks. A systematic review associating SB and health outcomes found that prolonged SB in adults was associated with a 1.18-fold increased risk of cardiac death, 1.17-fold increased risk of cancer death, 1.91-fold increased risk of diabetes, and 1.24-fold increased risk of all-cause death [1]. In a 12-year follow-up study examining the relationship between sitting time and the risk of death from cancer in women aged 50 years and older, the risk of death from cancer was 1.21 times increased for those who sat for eight hours per day, compared to those who sat for less than four hours per day [2]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion