title: Effect of Standing or Walking at a Workstation on Cognitive Function: A Randomized Counterbalanced Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we examined the effect of working while seated, while standing, or while walking on measures of short-term memory, working memory, selective and sustained attention, and information-processing speed.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The advent of computer-based technology has revolutionized the adult workplace, such that average adult full-time employees spend the majority of their working day seated. Prolonged sitting is associated with increasing obesity and chronic health conditions in children and adults. One possible intervention to reduce the negative health impacts of the modern office environment involves modifying the workplace to increase incidental activity and exercise during the workday. Although modifications, such as sit-stand desks, have been shown to improve physiological function, there is mixed information regarding the impact of such office modification on individual cognitive performance and thereby the efficiency of the work environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a fully counterbalanced randomized control trial, we assessed the cognitive performance of 45 undergraduate students for up to a 1-hr period in each condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicate that there is no significant change in the measures used to assess cognitive performance associated with working while seated, while standing, or while walking at low intensity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that cognitive performance is not degraded with short-term use of alternate workstations.
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bantoft
authors.affiliation: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia msummers@usc.edu.au.
authors.forename: Mathew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Launceston, AustraliaUniversity of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, AustraliaUniversity of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tranent
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Launceston, AustraliaUniversity of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, AustraliaUniversity of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Launceston, AustraliaUniversity of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, AustraliaUniversity of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia.
authors.forename: P Dean
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Cooley
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia.
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cognitive function; randomized control trial; sitting; standing; walking