TY - JOUR
T1 - Long-term effects of sit-stand workstations on workplace sitting
T2 - A natural experiment
AU - Zhu, Wenfei
AU - Gutierrez, Monica
AU - Toledo, Meynard J.
AU - Mullane, Sarah
AU - Stella, Anna Park
AU - Diemar, Randolph
AU - Buman, Kevin F.
AU - Buman, Matthew
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded in part by the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust and the Steelcase Corporation but did not have any input on the design of the study or analysis or interpretation of the data. WZ is supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities in China (GK201603128). MPB, MG, MJT, and SM are supported by the National Institute of Health (R01CA198971).
Funding Information:
This study was funded in part by the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust and the Steelcase Corporation but did not have any input on the design of the study or analysis or interpretation of the data. WZ is supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities in China ( GK201603128 ). MPB, MG, MJT, and SM are supported by the National Institute of Health ( R01CA198971 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Sports Medicine Australia
PY - 2018/8
Y1 - 2018/8
N2 - Objective: Sit-stand workstations may result in significant reductions in workplace sitting. However, few studies have examined long-term maintenance under real-world conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate workplace sitting time, cardio-metabolic biomarkers, and work productivity during a workplace re-design which included the installation of sit-stand workstations. Design: Natural experiment with appropriately matched comparison. Methods: Office workers from distinct worksites in the same unit were recruited (Intervention, n = 24; Comparison, n = 12). Intervention arm participants received a sit-stand workstation and 4 months of sitting-specific motivational support. The comparison arm received 4 months of ergonomic focused motivational support. Time spent in sitting, standing, and other physical activity were measured by activPAL3c for a week. Cardio-metabolic biomarkers and work productivity were also measured. Assessments occurred at baseline, 4 months, and 18 months. Results: At 4 months, work sitting time was reduced by 56.7 ± 89.1 min/8 h workday (d = −0.64), relative to comparison. Standing time (37.4 ± 69.2 min/8 h workday; d = 0.54) and sit-to-stand transitions (3.3 ± 0.4 min/8 h workday, d = 0.44) were also improved relative to comparison. At 18 months, work sitting time reductions (52.6 ± 68.3 min/8 h workday; d = −0.77) and standing time improvements (17.7 ± 54.8 min/8 h workday, d = 0.32) were maintained in the intervention group relative to comparison. Cardio-metabolic and work productivity changes were mixed; however, strongest effects favoring the intervention group were observed at 18 months. Conclusions: Sit-stand workstations, accompanied with behavioral support, were effective in reducing workplace and overall daily sitting and increasing standing time in a real-world setting. The effect appears to have been sustained for 18 months, with mixed results in cardio-metabolic and productivity outcomes.
AB - Objective: Sit-stand workstations may result in significant reductions in workplace sitting. However, few studies have examined long-term maintenance under real-world conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate workplace sitting time, cardio-metabolic biomarkers, and work productivity during a workplace re-design which included the installation of sit-stand workstations. Design: Natural experiment with appropriately matched comparison. Methods: Office workers from distinct worksites in the same unit were recruited (Intervention, n = 24; Comparison, n = 12). Intervention arm participants received a sit-stand workstation and 4 months of sitting-specific motivational support. The comparison arm received 4 months of ergonomic focused motivational support. Time spent in sitting, standing, and other physical activity were measured by activPAL3c for a week. Cardio-metabolic biomarkers and work productivity were also measured. Assessments occurred at baseline, 4 months, and 18 months. Results: At 4 months, work sitting time was reduced by 56.7 ± 89.1 min/8 h workday (d = −0.64), relative to comparison. Standing time (37.4 ± 69.2 min/8 h workday; d = 0.54) and sit-to-stand transitions (3.3 ± 0.4 min/8 h workday, d = 0.44) were also improved relative to comparison. At 18 months, work sitting time reductions (52.6 ± 68.3 min/8 h workday; d = −0.77) and standing time improvements (17.7 ± 54.8 min/8 h workday, d = 0.32) were maintained in the intervention group relative to comparison. Cardio-metabolic and work productivity changes were mixed; however, strongest effects favoring the intervention group were observed at 18 months. Conclusions: Sit-stand workstations, accompanied with behavioral support, were effective in reducing workplace and overall daily sitting and increasing standing time in a real-world setting. The effect appears to have been sustained for 18 months, with mixed results in cardio-metabolic and productivity outcomes.
KW - Natural experiment
KW - Sit-stand workstations
KW - Workplace sitting
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.12.005
DO - 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.12.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 29289496
AN - SCOPUS:85039150456
SN - 1440-2440
VL - 21
SP - 811
EP - 816
JO - Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
JF - Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
IS - 8
ER -