Energy Expenditure While Using Workstation Alternatives at Self-Selected Intensities.

Abstract

Active workstations offer the potential for augmenting energy expenditure (EE) in sedentary occupations. However, comparisons of EE during pedal and treadmill desk usage at self-selected intensities are lacking. A sample of 16 adult participants (8 men and 8 women; 33.9 [7.1]y, 22.5 [2.7]kg/m2) employed in sedentary occupations had their EE measured using indirect calorimetry during 4 conditions: (1)seated rest, (2)seated typing in a traditional office chair, (3)self-paced pedaling on a pedal desk while typing, and (4)self-paced walking on a treadmill desk while typing. For men and women, self-paced pedal and treadmill desk typing significantly increased EE above seated typing (pedal desk: +1.20 to 1.28kcal/min and treadmill desk: +1.43 to 1.93kcal/min, P < .001). In men, treadmill desk typing (3.46 [0.19]kcal/min) elicited a significantly higher mean EE than pedal desk typing (2.73 [0.21]kcal/min, P < .001). No significant difference in EE was observed between treadmill desk typing (2.68 [0.19]kcal/min) and pedal desk typing among women (2.52 [0.21]kcal/min). Self-paced treadmill desk usage elicited significantly higher EE than self-paced pedal desk usage in men but not in women. Both pedal and treadmill desk usage at self-selected intensities elicited approximate 2-fold increases in EE above what would typically be expected during traditional seated office work.