title: Sedentary Behavior and Musculoskeletal Discomfort Are Reduced When Office Workers Trial an Activity-Based Work Environment.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an activity-based work (ABW) office environment on physical activity and sedentary behavior, work ability, and musculoskeletal discomfort.
  
  
  
  Eighty-eight office workers trialed ABW for 4 weeks. Accelerometer and self-reported outcomes were measured at baseline, end-intervention, and follow-up. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models.
  
  
  
  Accelerometry measured sedentary time; sedentary breaks and step count did not significantly change from baseline to end-intervention (P = 0.13, 0.09, 0.18, respectively). Self-reported sitting-time was 14% lower, with standing-time and walking 11% and 3% higher in ABW than baseline (P < 0.01 for all). Low back pain was lower in ABW than baseline (odds ratio 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 3.7). Work ability reduced from 8.4 to 7.8 points (P < 0.01) at follow-up.
  
  
  
  ABW environment appears to reduce self-reported sedentary behavior and low back pain and increase standing time.
authors.affiliation: Primary Health Care Education and Research Unit, Research and Education Network, Western Sydney Local Health District, Westmead (Ms Foley); Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public health, Faculty of Medicine (Ms Foley, Drs Engelen, Gale, Bauman); Charles Perkins Centre (Drs Engelen, Gale, Bauman); and Discipline of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (Dr Mackey).
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Engelen
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gale
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bauman
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mackey
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult