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StanData Software Benefits Desk Users With Education, Goal-setting and Reminders

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Case Study

StanData Software Benefits Desk Users With Education, Goal-setting and Reminders​

StanData’s workstation analytics technology proves yet again that its capability to enhance the sit-stand workstation user-experience results in tangible health & productivity benefits.

Key Findings:

  • 733% increase in movement
  • 10% increase in productivity
  • 63% decrease in discomfort

StanData, a technology company based in Boca Raton, FL, recently worked with employees of a dental insurance provider who had been given sit-stand workstations by their employer as a WFH desk during pandemic. Prior to implementation of StanData software, initial surveys showed that the desks were primarily used as dedicated standing height desks, or as dedicated sitting height desks. None of the desks were moved with any regularity, as the average number of daily transitions (sit to a stand or vice-versa) for all participants was 1.0. This finding is significant and matches data from previously published studies1,2. Transitioning one’s desk from sitting to standing and vice-versa has been shown to provide both physiologic and ergonomic benefits3-6.

Using StanData’s proprietary system of reminders, education, goal-setting and gamification, there was an increase of over 700% in daily transitions among the company’s study participants with the group averaging over 8 transitions per day. Based on post-usage surveys, 50% of participants reported having increased energy while others described feeling “more productive” and “more engaged”. Participants also reported an average of a 10% increase in their productivity, based on a self-perception index. 75% reported some level of increase in productivity, and none of the participants reported a decrease in productivity.

I have to say the app has helped me use my desk in a manner that I was not used to. I typically have an issue with my knees, especially during the winter months. I have found that cycling between sitting and standing has reduced the stiffness and pain in my knees that I typically experience at the end of the work day.

Business Support Team Member & Study Participant

Amongst the group who sat for the majority of the time prior to the StanData intervention, sedentarism reduced by 25%, comfort levels improved by 63%, and Mood at Work Scores on average increased from a level of “Neutral” to the level of “Somewhat Happy”.

Amongst the predominantly standing group, sit-stand ratios were brought into a more favorable balance of 40% stance, 60% sit. Those who primarily stood prior to the StanData intervention tended to be the more active population and were more likely to report the highest Mood Score of “Very Happy”. Those results did not change as a result of balancing Sit/Stand ratio. Discomfort scores improved slightly with a 5% decrease in discomfort levels.

Discussion

Long periods of sitting have been shown to have a significant impact on health and wellbeing. Sedentarism has been associated with muscle degeneration, increased fatigue and an increased risk of developing chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and many cancers7.

Alternatively, it’s also important to recognize that standing all day is not healthy either. The body is not designed to have the same posture or load placed on it continuously. Standing for long periods can lead to fatigue, lower extremity joint pain, muscle cramps, back pain, blood pooling and varicose veins8.

The need for breaks and changes in body positions is apparent and there is increasing evidence3-6 supporting the health benefits of transitional movement where users can freely switch from a sitting position to a standing position throughout their workday. Benefits of frequent posture transition may include:

  • reduced musculoskeletal discomfort (ie less joint & muscle pain)
  • reduced risk of deep vein thrombosis
  • core muscle activation (stronger core leads to better posture)
  • reduced pressure on the discs of the spine
  • increased bloodflow to the brain and extremities
  • increased NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis)
  • increased presence of Lipoprotein Lipase (enzyme responsible for binding fat molecules in the bloodstream)
  • more efficient breathing and thus better blood oxygen levels (less fatigue, better brain function)

Summary

StanData’s workstation technology encourages employees to transition their bodies often and replace fatigue, poor posture and chronic pain with focus, increased energy and productivity. The benefits of integrating such technology to ANY sit-stand workstation results in more physical movement, which translates to increased employee comfort, engagement, and work performance leading to a quantifiable ROI for the employer.

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References

  1. Sharma et al IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors Volume 6, 2018 – Issue 2 pg 76-83
  2. Lewis, P Observational Study of 358 users, presented at NECE, Las Vegas 2015
  3. Vernikos, Joan “Sitting Kills, Movement Heals”
  4. Levine JA Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT). Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Dec;16(4):679-702.
  5. Loitzl C, et al Systematic review of workplace physical activity and sedentary behaviour interventions. PROSPERO 2015:CRD42015019398
  6. Physical Activity in the Workplace A Guide for Employers Workplace Health Research Network, which is supported by Cooperative Agreement Number 3U48DP005045 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Prevention Research Centers Program.
  7. Hamilton, MT, et al. Role of Low Energy Expenditure and Sitting in Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, Type 2 Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease Diabetes 56:2655–2667, 2007
  8. Waters, TR et al Rehabil Nurs. 2015 May-Jun; 40(3): 148–165.