Gorillas Stand Up for Working

Purpose: This project involved the introduction of the workplace trend, ergonomically-designed sit-stand desks (SSDs). Research in this area has concluded that for optimal health people should sit less and move more. Studies indicate the negative effects of prolonged sitting cannot be negated even by an hour of physical activity each day.  Prolonged sitting time has been identified as a health risk factor and musculoskeletal discomforts (MSDs) are report by 60% of office workers. SSDs allow office workers to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the working day. Therefore, the intention of this study was to indirectly affect the health and wellbeing of participants through quantitatively evaluating the before and after musculoskeletal discomforts in the neck, shoulder, back, arms, and legs in those using.  Research has shown that sitting is the most misunderstood health threat of our modern world. Researchers have found that sitting more than six hours a day will greatly increase your risk of an early death.  Yes, sitting is the new smoking!

Methods: The project began through distribution of 16 SSDs around the campus of a small regional university located in the Midwest.  A MSD pre-survey was completed with a post-survey to be completed after an 8-week trial. SSDs will then be redistributed to another 16 participants; the data acquisition will be repeated. The study was guided by a research team consisting of two graduate students in nursing and three undergraduate students from nursing, biology, and accounting. The perception of musculoskeletal discomfort was measured before and will be measured after using the desks.

Results: Preliminary results were obtained through a pilot study and reveal a very favorable response to the subjects’ perceived sense of wellness as well as a decrease in the subjective symptoms of back pain, musculoskeletal fatigue involving the neck, shoulders, arms and legs. Preliminary results from the pilot study are favorable to the subjects’ perceived sense of wellness as well as a decrease in MSDs. The study is ongoing through spring, 2016.

Conclusion: The key to improving health and well-being is about making small movement throughout the workday from sitting to standing; final results will be available March 15, 2016.