Implementation of Active Workstations in University Libraries—A Comparison of Portable Pedal Exercise Machines and Standing Desks

Camille Bastien Tardif, Maude Cantin, Sylvain Sénécal, Pierre-Majorique Léger, Élise Labonté-Lemoyne, Mickael Begon and Marie-Eve Mathieu
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Camille Bastien Tardif: École de kinesiologie et des sciences de l’activité physique, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
Maude Cantin: École de kinesiologie et des sciences de l’activité physique, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
Sylvain Sénécal: HEC Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 2A7, Canada
Pierre-Majorique Léger: HEC Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 2A7, Canada
Élise Labonté-Lemoyne: HEC Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 2A7, Canada
Mickael Begon: École de kinesiologie et des sciences de l’activité physique, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
Marie-Eve Mathieu: École de kinesiologie et des sciences de l’activité physique, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: Sedentary behaviors are an important issue worldwide, as prolonged sitting time has been associated with health problems. Recently, active workstations have been developed as a strategy to counteract sedentary behaviors. The present study examined the rationale and perceptions of university students’ and staff following their first use of an active workstation in library settings. Ninety-nine volunteers completed a self-administered questionnaire after using a portable pedal exercise machine (PPEM) or a standing desk (SD). Computer tasks were performed on the SD ( p = 0.001) and paperwork tasks on a PPEM ( p = 0.037) to a larger extent. Men preferred the SD and women chose the PPEM ( p = 0.037). The appreciation of the PPEM was revealed to be higher than for the SD, due to its higher scores for effective, useful, functional, convenient, and comfortable dimensions. Younger participants (<25 years of age) found the active workstation more pleasant to use than older participants, and participants who spent between 4 to 8 h per day in a seated position found active workstations were more effective and convenient than participants sitting fewer than 4 h per day. The results of this study are a preliminary step to better understanding the feasibility and acceptability of active workstations on university campuses.

Keywords: sedentary behaviors; prolonged sitting time; active workstations; standing workstations; university libraries; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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