Cognitive and biomechanical effects of postural changes in office environments

The aim of the study is to investigate the physical and mental effects caused by postural changes between sitting and standing in office environments. Cognitive function, movement pattern, salivary cortisol level, cardiac rhythm, physical activity and workload were measured in laboratory conditions. Up to now, 18 office workers (36.7 ± 10.0 yrs.) have undergone a measuring routine in alternating (sitting and standing) postures twice. Until the end of the study each subject will take part in 4 measurement days. In order to investigate long-term effects, subjects have been provided with traditional or active workspaces (Sit-to-Stand workstations) in either the first or the second half of the study. To investi-gate short term effects, 38 out of 45 students (22.2 ± 1.9 yrs.) completed the aforementioned measurement setup twice in either sitting or alter-nating postures at a 1-week interval. Preliminary long-term-study and short-term-study results show significant changes in self-reported seden-tary time (p=0.018) and performance perception (p=0.003, η2=0.283). Additional findings will be analyzed after completion of both studies.