Portable Pedal Exercise Machine for Reducing Sedentary Time
Portable Pedal Exercise Machine for Reducing Sedentary Time
Background Sedentary time is independently associated with an increased risk of metabolic disease. Worksite interventions designed to decrease sedentary time may serve to improve employee health.
Objective The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility and use of a pedal exercise machine for reducing workplace sedentary time.
Methods Eighteen full-time employees (mean age+SD 40.2+10.7 years; 88% female) working in sedentary occupations were recruited for participation. Demographic and anthropometric data were collected at baseline and 4 weeks. Participants were provided access to a pedal exercise machine for 4 weeks at work. Use of the device was measured objectively by exercise tracking software, which monitors pedal activity and provides the user real-time feedback (eg, speed, time, distance, calories). At 4 weeks, participants completed a feasibility questionnaire.
Results Participants reported sitting 83% of their working days. Participants used the pedal machines an average of 12.2+6.6 out of a possible 20 working days and pedalled an average of 23.4+20.4 min each day used. Feasibility data indicate that participants found the machines feasible for use at work. Participants also reported sedentary time at work decreased due to the machine.
Discussion Findings from this study suggest that this pedal machine may be a feasible tool for reducing sedentary time while at work. These findings hold public health significance due to the growing number of sedentary jobs in the USA and the potential of the device for use in large-scale worksite health programmes.
The health-related benefits of regular moderate and vigorous intensity physical activity have been well established. Conversely, physical inactivity is a leading preventable cause of death and all-cause mortality, and has been referred to as one of the most important public health problems of the 21st century. Within the realm of physical inactivity, researchers of the past decade have explored more specifically the health implications and associated health mechanisms of 'sedentary behaviour'. Recent reviews have defined sedentary behaviour as 'activities that do not increase energy expenditure substantially above resting levels' and include activities such as lying down, sitting and using screen-based technologies such as televisions and computers. Interestingly, even short bouts of reduced energy expenditure have been associated with substantial detriments to metabolic health in animals models. Emerging studies with humans seem to corroborate such findings, as time spent being sedentary has been demonstrated to be independently associated with an increased risk of metabolic diseases. Furthermore, sedentary time in the form of sitting has been associated with an increased likelihood of being overweight/obese. Conversely, evidence supports breaking up prolonged bouts of sedentary time as a means of improving metabolic risk factors such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, fasting glucose levels and triglyceride levels.
The workplace has been identified as an ideal setting for reducing sedentary time as full-time employees working a 40 h work week spend over a third of their weekly wakeful hours at work. In addition, working days are associated with less standing time and more time sitting time compared with non-work days, and evidence suggests occupational activity as a whole is on the decline with high physical activity occupations decreasing while low activity occupations have risen steadily over the past half century.
Previous worksite programmes aimed at increasing employees' physical activity have demonstrated efficacy for increasing physical activity, with some demonstrating improvements in worksite-specific outcomes such as attendance and job stress. Past worksite physical activity interventions have taken many approaches for promoting physical activity, including promoting stair use through point of decision prompts, promoting active transport and providing access to worksite fitness facilities. It could be argued, however, that many of these approaches are somewhat limited with regard to their reach and impact in that they do not target the large portion of time in which the typical desk/computer-dependent employee is working and therefore sedentary. With the rise in screen-based technologies in the worksite, computer use, an identified barrier to physical activity, has become a staple of the typical work day. Still, few worksite intervention approaches have focused specifically on reducing the sitting time of sedentary employees for improving health. Furthermore, no worksite interventions to date have attempted to reduce sedentary time while adapting to the typical computer work environment in which sitting is necessary.
Thompson et al recently tested the feasibility of a walking workstation designed to allow employees to continue their work while being active. Hospital employees in four different occupations were recruited for participation. While using the walking workstations, participants increased daily walking by an average of 2000 steps or an equivalent of 100 kcal/day. Participants also reported that they could perform normal work tasks (ie, computer work, professional phone calls) while using the device and declines in productivity were not reported to be an issue. However, such devices do have limitations that might prohibit widespread use such as high cost, size requirements that may not be met in small offices, lack of portability and lack of use for special needs populations such as those with orthopaedic limitations or joint pain.
McAlpine et al conducted a study testing the energy expenditure of an office stepping device that seemingly addressed several of the feasibility limitations of the walking workstation. The device used in their study was portable, cost feasible, nearly silent and when attached to a personal computer (PC) connected accelerometer allowed for self-monitoring. While the stepping device did result in significant increases in energy expenditure above sitting in a controlled laboratory setting, the study did not explore the feasibility of the device in a real-life setting.
Several portable pedal exercise machines that also address many of the limitations of the walking workstation have recently become commercially available. One machine in particular, the MagneTrainer mini exercise bike (3D Innovations, LLC, Greeley, CO) is a cost feasible, stable yet portable device that can be set up in front of most standard office chairs for use while sitting and also allows for objective self-monitoring (eg, time used, distance pedalled, average speed, caloric expenditure) through a PC connection. To our knowledge, no studies have explored the feasibility or use of a portable pedal machine for reducing time spent sedentary in an occupational setting. Therefore, the primary aims of this study are to test the feasibility, acceptability and use of a portable, pedal exercise machine for reducing sedentary time in a free-living, occupationally sedentary adult population. We hypothesise that participants will find the machines feasible and acceptable for use in the sedentary work environment, and that participants will decrease their sedentary time at work as a result of using the pedal machine.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Background Sedentary time is independently associated with an increased risk of metabolic disease. Worksite interventions designed to decrease sedentary time may serve to improve employee health.
Objective The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility and use of a pedal exercise machine for reducing workplace sedentary time.
Methods Eighteen full-time employees (mean age+SD 40.2+10.7 years; 88% female) working in sedentary occupations were recruited for participation. Demographic and anthropometric data were collected at baseline and 4 weeks. Participants were provided access to a pedal exercise machine for 4 weeks at work. Use of the device was measured objectively by exercise tracking software, which monitors pedal activity and provides the user real-time feedback (eg, speed, time, distance, calories). At 4 weeks, participants completed a feasibility questionnaire.
Results Participants reported sitting 83% of their working days. Participants used the pedal machines an average of 12.2+6.6 out of a possible 20 working days and pedalled an average of 23.4+20.4 min each day used. Feasibility data indicate that participants found the machines feasible for use at work. Participants also reported sedentary time at work decreased due to the machine.
Discussion Findings from this study suggest that this pedal machine may be a feasible tool for reducing sedentary time while at work. These findings hold public health significance due to the growing number of sedentary jobs in the USA and the potential of the device for use in large-scale worksite health programmes.
Introduction
The health-related benefits of regular moderate and vigorous intensity physical activity have been well established. Conversely, physical inactivity is a leading preventable cause of death and all-cause mortality, and has been referred to as one of the most important public health problems of the 21st century. Within the realm of physical inactivity, researchers of the past decade have explored more specifically the health implications and associated health mechanisms of 'sedentary behaviour'. Recent reviews have defined sedentary behaviour as 'activities that do not increase energy expenditure substantially above resting levels' and include activities such as lying down, sitting and using screen-based technologies such as televisions and computers. Interestingly, even short bouts of reduced energy expenditure have been associated with substantial detriments to metabolic health in animals models. Emerging studies with humans seem to corroborate such findings, as time spent being sedentary has been demonstrated to be independently associated with an increased risk of metabolic diseases. Furthermore, sedentary time in the form of sitting has been associated with an increased likelihood of being overweight/obese. Conversely, evidence supports breaking up prolonged bouts of sedentary time as a means of improving metabolic risk factors such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, fasting glucose levels and triglyceride levels.
The workplace has been identified as an ideal setting for reducing sedentary time as full-time employees working a 40 h work week spend over a third of their weekly wakeful hours at work. In addition, working days are associated with less standing time and more time sitting time compared with non-work days, and evidence suggests occupational activity as a whole is on the decline with high physical activity occupations decreasing while low activity occupations have risen steadily over the past half century.
Previous worksite programmes aimed at increasing employees' physical activity have demonstrated efficacy for increasing physical activity, with some demonstrating improvements in worksite-specific outcomes such as attendance and job stress. Past worksite physical activity interventions have taken many approaches for promoting physical activity, including promoting stair use through point of decision prompts, promoting active transport and providing access to worksite fitness facilities. It could be argued, however, that many of these approaches are somewhat limited with regard to their reach and impact in that they do not target the large portion of time in which the typical desk/computer-dependent employee is working and therefore sedentary. With the rise in screen-based technologies in the worksite, computer use, an identified barrier to physical activity, has become a staple of the typical work day. Still, few worksite intervention approaches have focused specifically on reducing the sitting time of sedentary employees for improving health. Furthermore, no worksite interventions to date have attempted to reduce sedentary time while adapting to the typical computer work environment in which sitting is necessary.
Thompson et al recently tested the feasibility of a walking workstation designed to allow employees to continue their work while being active. Hospital employees in four different occupations were recruited for participation. While using the walking workstations, participants increased daily walking by an average of 2000 steps or an equivalent of 100 kcal/day. Participants also reported that they could perform normal work tasks (ie, computer work, professional phone calls) while using the device and declines in productivity were not reported to be an issue. However, such devices do have limitations that might prohibit widespread use such as high cost, size requirements that may not be met in small offices, lack of portability and lack of use for special needs populations such as those with orthopaedic limitations or joint pain.
McAlpine et al conducted a study testing the energy expenditure of an office stepping device that seemingly addressed several of the feasibility limitations of the walking workstation. The device used in their study was portable, cost feasible, nearly silent and when attached to a personal computer (PC) connected accelerometer allowed for self-monitoring. While the stepping device did result in significant increases in energy expenditure above sitting in a controlled laboratory setting, the study did not explore the feasibility of the device in a real-life setting.
Several portable pedal exercise machines that also address many of the limitations of the walking workstation have recently become commercially available. One machine in particular, the MagneTrainer mini exercise bike (3D Innovations, LLC, Greeley, CO) is a cost feasible, stable yet portable device that can be set up in front of most standard office chairs for use while sitting and also allows for objective self-monitoring (eg, time used, distance pedalled, average speed, caloric expenditure) through a PC connection. To our knowledge, no studies have explored the feasibility or use of a portable pedal machine for reducing time spent sedentary in an occupational setting. Therefore, the primary aims of this study are to test the feasibility, acceptability and use of a portable, pedal exercise machine for reducing sedentary time in a free-living, occupationally sedentary adult population. We hypothesise that participants will find the machines feasible and acceptable for use in the sedentary work environment, and that participants will decrease their sedentary time at work as a result of using the pedal machine.
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