Work Site Intervention with Active Workstations: Effects On Activity Levels In First Cohort

Abstract

Attempts to increase the physical activity (PA) levels of the population have included alterations of the workplace to decrease sitting time and promote low levels of activity during the work day. Providing an alternative to a sitting desk with the active workstation is currently under investigation in a number of research efforts. It is not known what impact walking at work will have on the physical activity levels across the whole day, or outside of work. It is possible that the increase in PA during active workstation use would not increase the overall activity across the day or it might decrease the PA levels during the non-work hours (i.e. a compensatory response). PURPOSE:This longitudinal study sought to examine the effects of active workstation use at work on PA levels during work, the entire day and leisure time in the first cohort that was studied for one year. METHODS:One male, and 3 females (n=4) 47±5.1 years of age were studied. Ss had access to an active workstation during work hours (workstation group or WS). PA levels were monitored at baseline, 4 months, 8 months and 12 months with an Actical tri-axial accelerometer. Five additional Ss served as controls (C). All Ss wore the device on the hip for two weeks during each assessment period during all waking hours. Data were complied as counts per minute (cpm) for work hours, entire day and non-work hours. RESULTS: A repeated measures ANOVA was used to evaluate the data for the WS group. At baseline the average cpm during work was 94±28 (C= 125±58) and increased to 277±196 by month 12 (C= 138±78), F (4, 12) = 3.714; p<.03; Eta2 =.553. The cpm for the entire day increased from 194±39 to 260± 88 at 12 months (C=233±114 vs 279±240), F (4, 12) = 3.294; p.05; Eta2=.184. CONCLUSIONS:Active workstations can provide intervals of high PA during work that result in significantly elevated increases in PA across the work day. The PA levels across the entire day were also higher. Though the current cohort provides low statistical power (small n) it appears that the increase in activity during the work day does not result in lower PA in the non-work hours (i.e. no compensatory decrease in PA was observed).