Energy expenditure of standing compared to sitting while conducting office tasks
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Journal ArticleDate:
2017Access:
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Jill Burns, Cuisle Forde, Sara Dockrell, Energy expenditure of standing compared to sitting while conducting office tasks, Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, July 17, 2017Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate the
energy expenditure of common office-based tasks. The
objectives were to: (a) test the classification of tasks
as sedentary or light-intensity physical activity and (b)
compare the energy expenditure of tasks under two
postural conditions (sitting and standing).
The sedentary nature of office work
has been highlighted as a health risk, and strategies to
reduce sedentary behavior at work have been developed. However, there is limited evidence to guide the
utilization of sit-stand workstations in the workplace
for metabolic health benefits.
Method: A repeated measures laboratory-based
study compared the energy expenditure of common
office tasks in sitting and standing using indirect calorimetry (n = 22). Four standardized tasks (sitting/standing quietly, reading, typing, sorting paper) under two
postural conditions (sitting, standing) were performed
in a randomized order.
The mean energy expenditure for all tasks
in sitting and standing was <1.5 METs. There were no significant differences in the energy expenditure of doing the
same task in sitting compared to standing. In a repeated
measures ANOVA, task (p < .001) had a greater influence
on METs expended than posture (p = .030).
The study confirmed that the difference in energy expenditure of tasks carried out in sitting compared to standing is negligible.
The ubiquitous use and utility of sitstand workstations in the workplace needs to be reviewed.
Notwithstanding the potential benefits of movement that
may occur naturally, this study confirmed that standing as
opposed to sitting does not produce a clinically important
increase in energy expenditure.
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/sdockrllhttp://people.tcd.ie/codonov
Description:
PUBLISHEDhttps://doi.org/10.1177/0018720817719167
Author: Dockrell, Sara; Forde, Cuisle
Type of material:
Journal ArticleCollections
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Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics SocietyJuly 17
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Full text availableKeywords:
Sitting, Standing, Energy expenditure, Occupational, Sit-stand workstationSubject (TCD):
Physiology , Work physiologyDOI:
doi.org/10.1177/0018720817719167Metadata
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