Introduction
With the rise of telecommuting and sedentary office environments in this new age of work, “sitting” has become recognised as an important consideration in relation to present-day public health issues due to its association with chronic diseases. This new reality has led to increased demand for various alternatives to traditional workspaces that promote staff engagement in exercise without compromising productivity. Among these innovative alternatives is “the desk treadmill”, which is essentially a treadmill that is installed in workspaces or placed under “standing desks” since it has the capacity to convert idle time into exercise time.
Despite its popularity, there still linger questions: Is it really worth investing in a desk treadmill? What do studies say about its effectiveness and limitations? And is it even possible to do work while walking? Based on current evidence and expert reviews, this blog aims to provide you with all the in-depth insights you need to make an informed decision about whether or not investing in a desk treadmill is worthwhile.
The Sedentary Workplace Problem
Sedentary behaviour has also increased significantly. The classical office job involves prolonged periods of uninterrupted sitting. Such habits have been associated with several serious health problems such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases, and even early death. It has also been shown that even the reduction of sitting time by slow walking exercise can mitigate adverse health impacts. Reducing the incidence of sitting while increasing physical activity has now come to be regarded as one of the behavioural changes for office professionals to make.
Health Gains: The Role Of Research
Promotion of Physical Activity and a Reduction in Sedentary Behaviour
Systematic review and meta-analyses of treadmill desk intervention programs reveal that individuals who used a treadmill desk used more energy and decreased sitting times than workers who used traditional desks. In particular, there were positive associations between the use of treadmill desks and increased energy expenditure and reduced sedentary behaviour. Such changes are valuable within organisational settings, as there is a normal predisposition towards prolonged sitting.
Other research shows people who use treadmill desks walk more in their daily activities, at times increasing their average by 2 miles per day, helping reduce negative associated risks with sitting, such as obesity and insulin resistance.
Productivity and Cognitive Effects
Among the most popular inquiries regarding treadmill desks is how walking could possibly influence performance at work. The findings have indicated that low-intensity walking does not have a significant negative influence on most intellectual activities, such as typing or reading. On the contrary, some studies indicate that there are some positive changes in attentiveness and mood as users of treadmill desks experience increased alertness and creativity.
However, some of the activities that may be a bit more difficult when performed while using the treadmill include carrying out fine motor functions like using the mouse or doing design work.
Practical Considerations – Pros And Cons
Advantages
- Constant Movement Day and Night
Desk treadmills increase the level of exercise in the usual sedentary office life. They gradually raise the step rate while lowering the time spent sitting.
- Potential Energy and mood boost
Light walking has been shown to increase blood circulation, mood benefits, and combat the typical post-lunch slump, which are all indirectly related to improving productivity.
- Customizable to Your Work Style
Most treadmill desks also allow the wearer to walk at the pace they prefer and adjust the time intervals when they wish to continue with the exercise routine.
- Suitable for a Range of Fitness Levels
Since treadmill desks provide slow-speed functions, they are also suitable for people who are not used to regular exercise.
Drawbacks and Limitations
- Financial Investment
There can be considerable price variations for desk treadmills. Simple walking treadmill desks might begin with a price range from a few hundred dollars, but what can be considered a high-end treadmill desk solution would cost much higher with height-adjustable desk accessories.
- Noise and Workspace Disruption
Noise from the motor and/or footprints can be distracting, especially in an office setting. Though newer versions are made to work quietly, there’s never a silence.
- Space Requirements
Although compact under-desk treadmills consume a large area in your room. This becomes problematic in small home offices or small workspaces.
- Adjustment Period
There is a learning curve. It may take time for the user to adjust to learning how to walk and perform work tasks concurrently, and there may be a dip in performance during the adjustment period.
- Not a Complete Fitness Solution
Even though treadmill desks encourage incidental activity, they do not substitute for conventional exercise that involves higher intensity and weight training.
Cost vs. Benefit: Worth the Cost?
Whether a desk treadmill is “worth it” is a personal decision that depends on an individual’s values, work habits, and exercise preferences. For people who have sedentary careers and have difficulty completing their daily activity goals, a treadmill desk is a possible solution for maintaining low-level activity that doesn’t cut into work hours. While a treadmill desk is a new and novel innovation, its actual health outcomes have solid scientific foundations.
Conversely, if your job entails more fine motor skill-based activities or if you are already doing things right in getting regular exercise outside of the office, then the cost-effectiveness of the treadmill desk may be less appealing. Some individuals already derive benefit from simply getting up from the desk to stretch and take a walk around the office area without needing to buy the treadmill desk.
Conclusion
Desk treadmills embody a tremendous innovation in the pursuit of mitigating the dangers of a sedentary office environment. Backed by scientific evidence pointing to increased levels of exercise and a subsequent reduction in the amount of sitting, they present a potential alternative for those seeking to incorporate exercise directly into the office routine. They can prove particularly useful for those seeking to increase energy levels, improve moods, and achieve a minimal physical benefit with little disruption to most office-related activities.
At the same time, it is important to make an informed decision about whether to purchase a desk treadmill in light of your working routine and personal physical aspirations, and considering that these products are certainly not a one-size-fits-all solution. It is very often possible that a thoughtful approach to your work routine, combined with regular exercise, would be a more reliable source of improvements for your health and wellbeing than a desk treadmill.
In the end, the desk treadmill is not just a fad, it is an option with the potential to improve an unhealthy office routine with the help of reality-based expectations and utilisation. Whether or not the price is worth the value will depend upon the relevant application to one’s needs and goals, but for the modern-day employee accessing the WFH option or the professional who spends considerable time at the office, this option holds a promising future.