A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests that incorporating “active workstations” into office settings could significantly reduce sedentary time and improve mental cognition. The research, led by Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, highlights the benefits of integrating movement into the workday to combat the health risks associated with prolonged sitting. Many office workers spend up to eight hours a day seated, making it a major health concern. In fact, sitting has been compared to smoking in terms of its negative effects on health.
To test the effectiveness of active workstations, 44 participants were involved in a randomized clinical trial over four days. They experienced different office settings: sedentary, standing, walking, and using a stepper. The results showed that active workstations had minimal impact on typing speed and accuracy, addressing concerns businesses may have about implementing this type of change in the office.
The study concluded that active workstations can improve cognitive performance, suggesting that they can help reduce sedentary time without impairing work performance. Dr. Lopez-Jimenez stated that active workstations could be part of the prescription for preventing and treating conditions like obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
With little to no negative impact on productivity, companies that introduce more active workstations could see improvements in workers’ health and well-being. This could potentially lead to a positive indirect effect on productivity as well. Businesses looking to enhance the health of their employees and potentially boost productivity may consider incorporating active workstations into their office settings.
