BACKGROUND: This pilot study investigated the links between psychobiological indicators of work productivity, prolonged desk sitting, and conditions whereby office workers were able to interrupt sitting using a sit-stand or treadmill desk. METHODS: Twenty participants visited our laboratory and completed their own desk work in counterbalanced sit-only, sit-stand (Varidesk Pro Plus 48™), and sit-walk conditions (Infiniti TR1200-DTS™). Steady-state visually evoked potentials calculated from electroencephalography recordings during a set task at the end of the workday assessed attentional resource. Salivary cortisol samples were taken during the morning and afternoon to measure stress response. Within-subject analyses were used to compare work productivity indicators relative to condition. RESULTS: No significant differences in mean steady-state visually evoked potential amplitude were observed, although attentional resource allocation was found to be the most effective following the sit-stand [1.01 (0.46) μV] compared with the sit-walk [0.9 (0.28) μV] and sit-only [0.91 (0.32) μV] conditions. The mean magnitude of decrease in cortisol was most apparent when workers used treadmill (1.5 nmol/L; P = .007) and sit-stand (1.6 nmol/L; P = .001) desks, and least evident in the sit-only condition (1.0 nmol/L; P = .146). CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the potential benefits of standing or active deskwork to the allocation of attentional resources and the regulation of stress.
BACKGROUND: This pilot study investigated the links between psychobiological indicators of work productivity, prolonged desk sitting, and conditions whereby office workers were able to interrupt sitting using a sit-stand or treadmill desk. METHODS: Twenty participants visited our laboratory and completed their own desk work in counterbalanced sit-only, sit-stand (Varidesk Pro Plus 48™), and sit-walk conditions (Infiniti TR1200-DTS™). Steady-state visually evoked potentials calculated from electroencephalography recordings during a set task at the end of the workday assessed attentional resource. Salivary cortisol samples were taken during the morning and afternoon to measure stress response. Within-subject analyses were used to compare work productivity indicators relative to condition. RESULTS: No significant differences in mean steady-state visually evoked potential amplitude were observed, although attentional resource allocation was found to be the most effective following the sit-stand [1.01 (0.46) μV] compared with the sit-walk [0.9 (0.28) μV] and sit-only [0.91 (0.32) μV] conditions. The mean magnitude of decrease in cortisol was most apparent when workers used treadmill (1.5 nmol/L; P = .007) and sit-stand (1.6 nmol/L; P = .001) desks, and least evident in the sit-only condition (1.0 nmol/L; P = .146). CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the potential benefits of standing or active deskwork to the allocation of attentional resources and the regulation of stress.
Entities:
Keywords:
activity-promoting desks; cortisol; electroencephalography; work productivity
Authors: Tao Huang; Qian Gu; Zhangyan Deng; Chilun Tsai; Yue Xue; Jimeng Zhang; Liye Zou; Zuosong Chen; Kun Wang Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-03-28 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Megan Teychenne; Lena D Stephens; Sarah A Costigan; Dana Lee Olstad; Brendon Stubbs; Anne I Turner Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2019-10-23 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Masahiro Horiuchi; Chieko Takiguchi; Yoko Kirihara; Yukari Horiuchi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-08-10 Impact factor: 3.390