Office workers who spend most of their eight-hour workdays sitting can experience symptoms like exhaustion, hypertension, and musculoskeletal discomfort. To address these issues, researchers studied the computer usage and activity levels of 61 office workers over 10 days to find solutions and prevent health problems.
According to the study published in IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors, researchers from Texas A&M University School of Public Health, including Tricia Lynn Salzar, DrPH, Kaysey Aguilar, PhD, and others, examined how different workstations impact productivity and physical activity.
The study monitored 79 full-time adult office workers at a university, divided into three groups based on workstation type: stand-biased, sit-stand, or traditional. Stand-biased workstations are at standing elbow height with a drafting stool, sit-stand workstations are adjustable while seated, and traditional workstations are seated.
The researchers collected data on participants’ workstation setup, usage of equipment like footrests and keyboard trays, discomfort levels, and productivity by tracking computer use and physical activity. They found that stand-biased workers had higher word counts and more errors but also more standing time and less sitting time compared to the traditional group.
While the study revealed that stand-biased and sit-stand workstation users experienced less discomfort in areas like the lower back compared to traditional workstation users, the differences in outcomes were not statistically significant. Stand-biased workers expended more energy and stood more but had fewer transitions between sitting and standing postures.
The researchers concluded that alternatives like sit-stand or stand-biased workstations can help alleviate health issues associated with sedentary work while maintaining high productivity levels, benefiting both workers and employers.
