Put your hand up if you spend most of your day sitting at a desk, staring at a computer screen.
Did it hurt to put your hand up? Are you suffering from back, neck, shoulder pain, or headaches? Do you wish you could find the time to exercise more?
Well perhaps I can offer some insight that may make you think twice about the way you work.
A large majority of us are seated when we do our jobs. Whether we’re looking at a computer screen, talking on the phone, or attending a meeting, it’s no wonder that obesity rates are high and health complications including back pain are on the rise. So many of us share the same afflictions.
Some of us have heard the term ‘Ergonomics’. Many of us hear the term and imagine good desk chairs, or think about computer screens at eye level. But are these associations truly enough? Unfortunately, we have reason to believe not.
If we stay in the same position all day – even in an ‘ergonomically correct’ posture – we are still more likely to suffer from pain and injury in our backs, necks, and shoulders. We need to be constantly changing positions to maintain good circulation and to reduce our likelihood for pain. The ideal arrangement is a changing position to help avoid muscle and joint fatigue.
If we stay in the same position all day – even in an ‘ergonomically correct’ posture – we are still more likely to suffer from pain and injury in our backs, necks, and shoulders. We need to be constantly changing positions to maintain good circulation and to reduce our likelihood for pain. The ideal arrangement is a changing position to help avoid muscle and joint fatigue.
As a chiropractor, I find that movement is often the best medicine to prescribe to my patients. The challenge however, is urging my patients to involve regular movement into their work routines. Yes, breaks helps - standing, walking around the office, etc. – but is there something more they could be doing?
Recently, I was introduced to a device that truly impressed me. I became fascinated by its potential to help us reinvent the workplace – and the way we operate in our jobs. Imagine going to work and having the options of sitting, standing, and walking at any moment during your day.
The technology is here and I’d like to share it with you.
Meet The Walkstation:
The Walkstation is essentially a treadmill with a maximum speed of 2 mph. It also has an adjustable workstation attached to it.
Steelcase, the company that makes the Walkstation, also sells a ‘Sit-to-Walkstation’ that allows you to switch between walking, standing and sitting.
Say good bye to your sedentary work ways!
Sure, the Walkstation may look unsuited to the workspace at first. But imagine how this new and forward-thinking technology could change our working environment.
Could this be the answer to a healthier work life? Here is what the research tells us:
Researchers have done a number of studies comparing workers who used the Walkstation versus those who used a traditional desk and chair setup. The results speak for themselves.
First and perhaps most noticeably, employees on the Walkstation lost weight. These employees actually changed their body composition – losing fat and increasing lean muscle mass. With the Walkstation employees, researchers also noticed a drop in cholesterol levels as well as decreased blood pressures. (And these are just the physical effects).
Most workers further noticed increases in their energy levels, and commented that they felt less stressed out and more engaged throughout the longer work days. Lost weight, more energy, and less stress. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?
Can you imagine being healthier, more productive, and also preventing injuries? All this, while you perform the same work tasks you always have, at your desk.
Now I think I know what some of you are wondering: How can I actually get any work done when I’m sweating and out of breath on a treadmill? The key is the speed. Most employees are only walking at a pace of 1-2 mph – it’s not even enough to break a sweat. Plus, people aren’t able to notice any difference in your voice on the other end of a phone conversation.
One study specifically looked at how the Walkstation influenced job tasks, like typing for example. Results indicated that people were a bit slower during the first few days (when they had to combine walking with typing), but that people adapted within 5 days and their typing speeds resumed. All this while having more energy and focus from the effects of increased blood flow to the body and brain. To put it simply: I think it’s pretty cool.
My purpose in writing this article is to get us all thinking a little ‘outside the box’, and to share the Walkstation as an effective example. If you think your workplace could use the benefits of Walkstation technology, or if you’re curious about using one for a home office perhaps, check out some information and research on the Steelcase website below.
I believe it’s time we start embracing the age of ergonomics, and take a hard look at what our workplaces can do to our bodies. Perhaps it’s time we gave our bodies a raise, too.
The Walkstation is sold by Steelcase and was developed with Dr. James Levine, who was with the Mayo Clinic. He has conducted extensive research on obesity and coined the term N.E.A.T. which stands for "non-exercise activity thermogenesis". NEAT is the everyday movements we make other than when we are sleeping. It is metabolically more effective, to put more NEAT in your life than to seek organized exercise.
