Treadmill desks not worth the effort: study

It's true they get desk jockeys moving, but the results aren't enough to justify the logistical challenges treadmill desks pose, according to a study from Oregon State University in the U.S.

Treadmill desks, along with exercise balls and chairs designed to make the body work rather than rest, have been gaining popularity as mounting evidence indicates that extended sitting poses health hazards.

Working with 40 overweight or obese office workers at a private health insurance company, the research team replaced their standard desks with treadmill desks for 12 weeks.

Data was collected using pedometers and participants did increase their daily step counts, yet their average walking speed was only 1.8 miles per hour, which would be considered light exercise.

Study author John M. Schuna Jr., an assistant professor of exercise and sports science at OSU, remarks that exercise intensity must be low if one is to continue to work at the same time, yet replacing sitting with slow walking is not enough.

"There may be cardiovascular or other benefits when people begin increasing their steps, even in small amounts at low intensity," says Schuna, "but reversing the effects of a sedentary lifestyle would likely require more activity, including moderate or vigorous exercise."

Logistical challenges plagued the study, including a lack of interest from potential participants.

Despite encouragement on the part of their employer, only 10 per cent of the more than 700 employees who were recruited expressed interest and, among those who did, many were not granted approval from their supervisor.

Due to the high cost of the treadmill desks, participants wound up sharing them, which required advance planning, and Schuna says his study indicates that treadmill desks should not be looked upon as a practical solution.

"We need to identify some form of physical activity that can be done simply and at a low cost in an office setting," says Schuna, whose study was published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.