TitleEvaluation of a workplace treadmill desk intervention: a randomized controlled trial.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsSchuna, Jr, JM, Swift, DL, Hendrick, CA, Duet, MT, Johnson, WD, Martin, CK, Church, TS, Tudor-Locke, C
JournalJournal of occupational and environmental medicine / American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume56
Issue12
Pagination1266-76
Date Published12/2014
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a 3-month treadmill desk intervention in eliciting changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior among overweight/obese office workers. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted among overweight/obese office workers (n = 41; mean age = 40.1 ± 10.1 years) at a private workplace. Participants were randomly assigned to a shared-treadmill desk intervention (n = 21) or a usual working condition control group (n = 20). Accelerometer-determined physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the intervention group increased daily steps (1622 steps/day; P = 0.013) and light physical activity (1.6 minutes/hour; P = 0.008), and decreased sedentary time (-3.6 minutes/hour; P = 0.047) during working hours. CONCLUSIONS: Shared-treadmill desks in the workplace can be effective at promoting favorable changes in light physical activity (specifically 40 to 99 steps/minute) and sedentary behavior among overweight/obese office workers.

DOI10.1097/JOM.0000000000000336