Effects of Desk Pedaling Work Rate on Concurrent Work Performance among Physically Inactive Adults: A Randomized Experiment

Purpose: Under-desk pedaling devices could help reduce health risks associated with the global decline in work-related energy expenditure. However, the optimal pedaling work rate to facilitate concurrent work performance among physically inactive adults is unclear. We examined the effects of two light-intensity pedaling work rates on physically inactive adults’ work performance.

Methods: We recruited equal numbers of older (45–65 yr) versus younger (20–44 yr), male versus female, and overweight/obese (body mass index [BMI], 25–35 kg·m−2) versus normal weight (BMI, 18.5–24.9 kg·m−2) participants. Using a Graeco-Latin square design, participants (n = 96) completed a laboratory experiment to evaluate the effects of using an under-desk pedaling device at two seated light-intensity work rates (17 and 25 W), relative to a seated nonpedaling condition on objectively measured typing, reading, logical reasoning, and phone task performance. Ergonomic comfort under each pedaling work rate was also assessed. Equivalence tests were used to compare work performance under the pedaling versus nonpedaling conditions.

Results: Treatment fidelity to the 17- and 25-W pedaling work rates exceeded 95%. Mean work performance scores for each pedaling and nonpedaling condition were equivalent under alpha = 0.025. Age, sex, and BMI did not significantly moderate the effect of pedaling on work performance. Participants reported greater ergonomic comfort while completing work tasks at the 17-W relative to the 25-W work rate.

Conclusions: Physically inactive adults obtained similar work performance scores under the 17- and 25-W pedaling and the nonpedaling conditions, suggesting that either pedaling work rate could help reduce health risks of sedentary work time. The 17-W work rate yielded greater ergonomic comfort and may be an appropriate starting point for introducing diverse inactive workers to under-desk pedaling.

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Work Title Effects of Desk Pedaling Work Rate on Concurrent Work Performance among Physically Inactive Adults: A Randomized Experiment
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Lisa Rovniak
  2. Jaehyun Cho
  3. Andris Freivalds
  4. Lan Kong
  5. Mari De Araujo-Greecher
  6. Melissa Bopp
  7. Christopher Sciamanna
  8. Ling Rothrock
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Publication Date January 2023
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003026
Deposited October 08, 2024

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Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Added DeskCycleLabStudy_.pdf
  • Added Creator Andris Freivalds
  • Added Creator Lisa Rovniak
  • Added Creator Jaehyun Cho
  • Added Creator L Kong
  • Added Creator Ling Rothrock
  • Added Creator M Bopp
  • Added Creator C Sciamanna
  • Published
  • Updated
  • Updated Description, Publication Date Show Changes
    Description
    • Research results
    • Purpose
    • Under-desk pedaling devices could help reduce health risks associated with the global decline in work-related energy expenditure. However, the optimal pedaling work rate to facilitate concurrent work performance among physically inactive adults is unclear. We examined the effects of two light-intensity pedaling work rates on physically inactive adults’ work performance.
    • Methods
    • We recruited equal numbers of older (45–65 yr) versus younger (20–44 yr), male versus female, and overweight/obese (body mass index [BMI], 25–35 kg·m−2) versus normal weight (BMI, 18.5–24.9 kg·m−2) participants. Using a Graeco-Latin square design, participants (n = 96) completed a laboratory experiment to evaluate the effects of using an under-desk pedaling device at two seated light-intensity work rates (17 and 25 W), relative to a seated nonpedaling condition on objectively measured typing, reading, logical reasoning, and phone task performance. Ergonomic comfort under each pedaling work rate was also assessed. Equivalence tests were used to compare work performance under the pedaling versus nonpedaling conditions.
    • Results
    • Treatment fidelity to the 17- and 25-W pedaling work rates exceeded 95%. Mean work performance scores for each pedaling and nonpedaling condition were equivalent under alpha = 0.025. Age, sex, and BMI did not significantly moderate the effect of pedaling on work performance. Participants reported greater ergonomic comfort while completing work tasks at the 17-W relative to the 25-W work rate.
    • Conclusions
    • Physically inactive adults obtained similar work performance scores under the 17- and 25-W pedaling and the nonpedaling conditions, suggesting that either pedaling work rate could help reduce health risks of sedentary work time. The 17-W work rate yielded greater ergonomic comfort and may be an appropriate starting point for introducing diverse inactive workers to under-desk pedaling.
    Publication Date
    • 2022-08-16
    • 2023-01
  • Updated Work Title Show Changes
    Work Title
    • Effects of desk pedaling work rate on concurrent work performance
    • Effects of Desk Pedaling Work Rate on Concurrent Work Performance among Physically Inactive Adults: A Randomized Experiment
  • Updated Creator Andris Freivalds
  • Updated Creator Lisa Rovniak
  • Updated Creator Jaehyun Cho
  • Renamed Creator Lan Kong Show Changes
    • L Kong
    • Lan Kong
  • Updated Creator Ling Rothrock
  • Renamed Creator Melissa Bopp Show Changes
    • M Bopp
    • Melissa Bopp
  • Renamed Creator Christopher Sciamanna Show Changes
    • C Sciamanna
    • Christopher Sciamanna
  • Added Creator Mari De Araujo-Greecher
  • Updated Description Show Changes
    Description
    • Purpose
    • Purpose:
    • Under-desk pedaling devices could help reduce health risks associated with the global decline in work-related energy expenditure. However, the optimal pedaling work rate to facilitate concurrent work performance among physically inactive adults is unclear. We examined the effects of two light-intensity pedaling work rates on physically inactive adults’ work performance.
    • Methods
    • Methods:
    • We recruited equal numbers of older (45–65 yr) versus younger (20–44 yr), male versus female, and overweight/obese (body mass index [BMI], 25–35 kg·m−2) versus normal weight (BMI, 18.5–24.9 kg·m−2) participants. Using a Graeco-Latin square design, participants (n = 96) completed a laboratory experiment to evaluate the effects of using an under-desk pedaling device at two seated light-intensity work rates (17 and 25 W), relative to a seated nonpedaling condition on objectively measured typing, reading, logical reasoning, and phone task performance. Ergonomic comfort under each pedaling work rate was also assessed. Equivalence tests were used to compare work performance under the pedaling versus nonpedaling conditions.
    • Results
    • Results:
    • Treatment fidelity to the 17- and 25-W pedaling work rates exceeded 95%. Mean work performance scores for each pedaling and nonpedaling condition were equivalent under alpha = 0.025. Age, sex, and BMI did not significantly moderate the effect of pedaling on work performance. Participants reported greater ergonomic comfort while completing work tasks at the 17-W relative to the 25-W work rate.
    • Conclusions
    • Conclusions:
    • Physically inactive adults obtained similar work performance scores under the 17- and 25-W pedaling and the nonpedaling conditions, suggesting that either pedaling work rate could help reduce health risks of sedentary work time. The 17-W work rate yielded greater ergonomic comfort and may be an appropriate starting point for introducing diverse inactive workers to under-desk pedaling.
  • Updated Publisher Identifier (DOI), Related URLs Show Changes
    Publisher Identifier (DOI)
    • 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003026
    Related URLs
    • https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fulltext/2023/01000/effects_of_desk_pedaling_work_rate_on_concurrent.3.aspx
  • Updated Related URLs Show Changes
    Related URLs
    • https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fulltext/2023/01000/effects_of_desk_pedaling_work_rate_on_concurrent.3.aspx