Effect of Alternating Postures on Cognitive Performance

NCT ID: NCT02863731

Last Updated: 2016-08-17

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

46 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2014-01-31

Study Completion Date

2015-03-31

Brief Summary

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Prolonged sitting is a risk factor for cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases, diabetes, several types of cancer and all-cause mortality. In combination with static and awkward postures, the prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases can increase further. Although the implementation of sit-to-stand or active workstations can help to reduce sitting time, improve physical activity at work and promote health benefits, it might also lead to changes in cognitive functions such as productivity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the short-term effect of alternating working postures on cognitive performance for healthy people.

Detailed Description

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Measurements were made in a laboratory. They were made on two different days with an interval of 7 days between sessions. Laboratory tests were conducted in a controlled, simulated work-space located at the University of Applied Sciences Campus Linz. All laboratory measurements were made in a controlled laboratory at the campus site Linz of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. Temperature, air flow, humidity, lighting conditions (artificial light only) and noise level were controlled and set to be consistent with the subjects' typical working environment.

During the laboratory measurements, subjects either stood or sat upright in an ergonomic office chair, according to the study protocol. Subjects were encouraged to work as fast and as accurately as they could. To ensure identical testing conditions between subjects and to not unduly influence physiological parameters such as heart rate variability (HRV), subjects were required to minimize excessive movement (e.g. standing up during the sitting periods).

In the first (initial) phase participants were familiarized with the study protocol. Sitting time and weekly physical activity were determined via the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ, only on the first day of measurement). Examples of each cognitive test implemented in the cognitive phase were executed according to their guidelines. A 30 minute break in a sitting posture was used to ascertain baseline heart-rate level. Baseline heart-rate was calculated after a 20 minute rest for a 5 minute interval.

In the second (cognitive) phase subjects participated in a test battery containing five blocks. Each block consisted of a working speed test (text editing task), an attentional test (d2R-test of attention) and a reaction time test (Stroop-test). These tests lasted for 30 minutes to fulfill recommendations regarding postural changes. To simulate "common" working conditions (computer based and non-computer based tasks), digital (text editing task, Stroop-test) as well as pen \& paper (d2R-test) versions of the implemented tests were used.

For the intervention group, the cognitive blocks were executed in an alternating posture (sit - stand - sit - stand - sit) either on the first or the second day of measurement (cross-over design). To generate control periods, this procedure was executed in an sitting posture only (sit - sit - sit - sit - sit) for the non-interventional day. For the control group, both days of measurement were executed in sitting posture only (sit - sit - sit - sit - sit ).

In the third (final) phase participants were asked to estimate their workload by means of the Task Load Index questionnaire developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA-TLX), followed by a 30 minutes resting phase in a sitting posture. During both 30 min resting phases (initial \& final) participants watched documentaries and were encouraged not to talk.

Heart-rate and trunk movements were measured from the start of the study protocol until the next morning by means of an mobile ECG-recorder.

Conditions

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Sedentary Lifestyle

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Alternating postures: first day

Alternating body postures on the first day of measurement. Sitting body posture on the second day of measurement.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Alternating working postures, first day

Intervention Type OTHER

On the first day of measurement participants execute five test battery trials in alternating postures (sit/stand/sit/stand/sit). On the second day of measurement participants execute the test battery in a sitting posture (sit/sit/sit/sit/sit).

Alternating postures: second day

Alternating body postures on the second day of measurement. Sitting body posture on the first day of measurement.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Alternating working postures, second day

Intervention Type OTHER

On the first day of measurement participants execute five test battery trials in a sitting posture (sit/sit/sit/sit/sit). On the second day of measurement participants execute the test battery in alternating postures (sit/stand/sit/stand/sit).

Control group

Sitting body posture on both days of measurement.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Alternating working postures, first day

On the first day of measurement participants execute five test battery trials in alternating postures (sit/stand/sit/stand/sit). On the second day of measurement participants execute the test battery in a sitting posture (sit/sit/sit/sit/sit).

Intervention Type OTHER

Alternating working postures, second day

On the first day of measurement participants execute five test battery trials in a sitting posture (sit/sit/sit/sit/sit). On the second day of measurement participants execute the test battery in alternating postures (sit/stand/sit/stand/sit).

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Healthy Caucasian (no acute or chronic diseases)
* Normal weight or overweight (BMI: 18.5 - 30.0 kg/m²)
* Regular computer users
* Fluent German speakers
* Consented to participate

Exclusion Criteria

* Obesity (BMI \> 30.0 kg/m²)
* Experience in sit-to-stand workstations
* Acute or chronic diseases
* Inability to stand
* Visual impairments that had not been corrected
* Color blindness
* Regular heavy smokers (\> 10 cigarettes /day)
* Not consented to participate
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

39 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Vienna

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Bernhard Schwartz

Research Associate

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Bernhard Schwartz, MSc

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

Locations

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University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

Linz, Upper Austria, Austria

Site Status

Countries

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Austria

References

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Neuhaus M, Healy GN, Dunstan DW, Owen N, Eakin EG. Workplace sitting and height-adjustable workstations: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Prev Med. 2014 Jan;46(1):30-40. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2013.09.009.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24355669 (View on PubMed)

Commissaris DA, Konemann R, Hiemstra-van Mastrigt S, Burford EM, Botter J, Douwes M, Ellegast RP. Effects of a standing and three dynamic workstations on computer task performance and cognitive function tests. Appl Ergon. 2014 Nov;45(6):1570-8. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2014.05.003. Epub 2014 Jun 17.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24951234 (View on PubMed)

Bates ME, Lemay EP Jr. The d2 Test of attention: construct validity and extensions in scoring techniques. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2004 May;10(3):392-400. doi: 10.1017/S135561770410307X.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15147597 (View on PubMed)

Best JR, Nagamatsu LS, Liu-Ambrose T. Improvements to executive function during exercise training predict maintenance of physical activity over the following year. Front Hum Neurosci. 2014 May 27;8:353. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00353. eCollection 2014.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24904387 (View on PubMed)

Van der Elst W, Van Boxtel MP, Van Breukelen GJ, Jolles J. The Stroop color-word test: influence of age, sex, and education; and normative data for a large sample across the adult age range. Assessment. 2006 Mar;13(1):62-79. doi: 10.1177/1073191105283427.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16443719 (View on PubMed)

Lynch BM. Sedentary behavior and cancer: a systematic review of the literature and proposed biological mechanisms. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2010 Nov;19(11):2691-709. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-10-0815. Epub 2010 Sep 10.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20833969 (View on PubMed)

Owen N, Sparling PB, Healy GN, Dunstan DW, Matthews CE. Sedentary behavior: emerging evidence for a new health risk. Mayo Clin Proc. 2010 Dec;85(12):1138-41. doi: 10.4065/mcp.2010.0444. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21123641 (View on PubMed)

Brown WJ, Miller YD, Miller R. Sitting time and work patterns as indicators of overweight and obesity in Australian adults. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003 Nov;27(11):1340-6. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802426.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 14574344 (View on PubMed)

Schwartz B, Kapellusch JM, Schrempf A, Probst K, Haller M, Baca A. Effect of a novel two-desk sit-to-stand workplace (ACTIVE OFFICE) on sitting time, performance and physiological parameters: protocol for a randomized control trial. BMC Public Health. 2016 Jul 15;16:578. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3271-y.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27422158 (View on PubMed)

Schwartz B, Kapellusch JM, Schrempf A, Probst K, Haller M, Baca A. Effect of alternating postures on cognitive performance for healthy people performing sedentary work. Ergonomics. 2018 Jun;61(6):778-795. doi: 10.1080/00140139.2017.1417642. Epub 2017 Dec 28.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 29235967 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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834185

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

AO-8735-2

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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