The Effect Of Treadmill Desk Walking On Creative Thinking

Abstract

PURPOSE: Most research on treadmill desks in the workplace report no significant change in productivity. However, most of these studies focused on cognitive performance measured by tests in attention, memory or reasoning. While aerobic exercise has been linked to producing a positive effect on creative potential, few studies have tested workplace creativity thinking. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of treadmill desk walking on convergent and divergent creative thinking. METHODS: Twelve (n=12) male and female college-age students were recruited and completed three tests of creative function: the verbal Guilford’s Alternate Uses Task (VGAT) of divergent thinking, written Guilford’s Alternative Uses Task (WGAT), and the Remote Associations Task (RAT) of convergent thinking. Participants completed all tests while seated at a traditional desk and while walking on a treadmill desk at 1.5 mph. Step length, stride length, and gait cycle were assessed by the OptoGait gait analysis system. A paired sample t-test was used to compare creative test scores and gait variables. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between any test scores while seated and walking (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between baseline gait and divergent thinking (VGAT, WGAT) task gait in any variable (p>0.05). There was a significant increase in step length (p=0.049), stride length (p=0.046), and gait cycle (p=0.039) between the walking only condition and the treadmill desk walking during the RAT. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study suggest neither convergent nor divergent creative thinking are improved when walking on a treadmill desk. While gait patterns are not changed during divergent thinking, this study suggests gait during convergent thinking may be altered.