Benefits of Sit-Stand Ergonomic Workstations

In our last post, we talked about the negative effects of sitting all day long. Fortunately, more and more companies are choosing to provide sit-stand ergonomic workstations for their employees. While some people may be skeptical about the benefits of these desks, we now have proof that sit-stand desks come with many great health benefits.

Recently, we wrapped up a five-week sit-stand study in collaboration with Fujitsu Labs of America and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Joy Boese, President of E3 Consulting, brought the companies together to examine the exact health benefits of a sit-stand ergonomic workstation in a corporate office environment. Joy presented the findings from this study at the National Ergonomics Conference & Exposition in Las Vegas this past December.

Using biosensor technology, we determined that the future of a healthy, productive office involves the option for a sit-stand ergonomic workstation. Read on to find out how we integrated biosensor technology into the study. We’ll discuss how we were able to collect unbiased data, analyze it, and tailor it to each individual and the company as a whole.

The Basics of the Study

We conducted the study in one of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s (SPE) facilities in Los Angeles. Participants included volunteers from the finance and information services departments of SPE. Fujitsu Laboratories of America (FLA) provided the means for data collection and analysis. Workrite Ergonomics supplied each participant with an ergonomic workstation and took care of the set-up and installation. We served as the project managers for the study and provided support for all of the volunteers.

What We Did

Each volunteer was fitted with a real-time, wearable cardiac monitoring device. These devices measured human biometrics, including heart rate, ECG, and skin temperature. FLA attached an Android device to each sit-stand ergonomic workstation to sense movement, surface height, and engagement. Each participant was also assessed by a medical team at the beginning of the study and at the end of the five weeks.

Our Results

At the end of the study, we found the following health changes in participants:

• A decrease in blood pressure
• An increase in good cholesterol
• An increase in fasting glucose
• A reduction in weight
• A reduction in body fat

A majority of participants felt healthier throughout the day and reported better sleep and less back pain. Just having the option to stand during the day was empowering to many of the participants—who, on average, adjusted the heights of their ergonomic workstations twice per day. At the end of the study, 100% of participants chose to keep their sit-stand desks instead of reverting back to their old ones.

Click below to find out what ergonomic workstations can do for your office. The health benefits of sit-stand desks are undeniable. Contact us to learn more or to schedule a consultation!

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