Assessing the Effects Of Treadmill On LPA, Sitting Time, and Cardiovascular Risk

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to:

1. Evaluate the relative efficacy of a treadmill desk intervention on light physical activity and sitting behaviors at work over four weeks;

2. Evaluate the relative efficacy of a treadmill desk intervention on the cardiovascular risk profiles (blood pressure, body weight, body fat percentage) over a four-week period.

Detailed Description: American workers spend 70-80% of their time at work sitting at a desk, working on a computer, talking on a telephone, and sitting in meetings. Traditional approaches to increase MVPA in the workplace may not be sustainable as they require deliberate and dedicated time away from work, and may be perceived as harmful to productivity. Sedentary behavior interventions, in contrast, do not interfere with daily tasks and productivity and require small but cumulative changes in posture and LPA throughout the workday.

Sedentary behavior interventions in the worksite, including those conducted by our team, have shown promising effects. Studies that have used multi-level approaches targeting individual, social, and environmental factors have been most effective. The most robust environmental support has been the use of sit-stand workstations, providing distinct opportunities for workers to reduce sitting while maintaining productivity. However, treadmill desks may provide an even greater opportunity to both reduce sitting and increase LPA during the workday. Thus, a pilot study is required to test the efficacy of this approach to reduce sitting and increase LPA in the workplace.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Not currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the 11 week study period.
Able to read and write in English.
No current use of a sit/stand or treadmill desk.
Work that is done in a predominately stationary position.
Working at UMN West Bank Office Building at least 30 hours per week.
Not currently meeting physical activity guidelines.
No balance issues (i.e. healthy vestibular system)
No contraindications to standing or walking
Weight stable for the past 12 months.
Taking no more than 3 prescription drugs, with stable dosage, over the past 12 months
Answer of no to all Physical Activity Readiness-Questionnaire (PAR-Q) questions

Exclusion Criteria

Currently pregnant or actively trying to become pregnant during the 14 week study period.
Unable to read and write in English.
Working less than 30 hours per week.
Currently meeting physical activity guidelines.
Non-sedentary job.
Current use of treadmill desk
Any reported balance problems
Anyone with contraindications to standing or walking
Weight fluctuations of more than +/- 10% of their body weight in the past year
Individuals taking more than 4 prescription drugs and/or unstable dosage of medications over the past 12 months if taking 3 or less.
Answer of yes to any PAR-Q questions

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Treadmill desk	Treadmill desk	Participants will be asked to use a treadmill desk for a minimum of 30 minutes per day for four weeks (Participants will sign up for a total of 30 minutes each day). Additional time may be spent on the treadmill, time permitting (two treadmills will be available to up to 10 people over the four week period).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Time spent standing	7-days	The change in time spent standing as measured by the ActivPAL, from baseline to the final week of each intervention condition
Time spent moving	7-days	The change in time spent moving as measured by the ActivPAL, from baseline to the final week of each intervention condition
Time spent sitting	7-days	The change in time spent sitting as measured by the ActivPAL, from baseline to the final week of each intervention condition

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cardiovascular risk: Percent body fat	7-days	The change in the cardiovascular risk, as measured via percent body fat from baseline to the final week of each condition.
Cardiovascular risk: Blood pressure	7-days	The change in the cardiovascular risk, as measured via blood pressure from baseline to the final week of each condition.
Cardiovascular risk: Body weight	7-days	The change in the cardiovascular risk, as measured via body weight from baseline to the final week of each condition.

Locations (1): University of Minnesota West Bank Office Building
🇺🇸
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States