« Morning After | Main | Shakespeare's Pulp Fiction »

Deskbound and Can't Exercise?

1091762-1505046-thumbnail.jpg

Some of us are deskbound or lead otherwise sedentary lives. Regular exercise gets left at the gate when we’re scheduling our week, month, quarter. There are priorities, things that must be completed on time. Urgent things. So we don’t get enough exercise and our physical wellbeing suffers, right? “Secretary spread” some call it. (Shame on them!) Details, a Steelcase Company, offers a possible solution:

“The Walkstation is the fully integrated combination of an electric height-adjustable worksurface with an exclusively engineered, low speed commercial grade treadmill. And it’s the first product in the entirely new FitWork™ category of products from Details designed to bring healthy habits to sedentary workers while they are actually working.”

Seems a novel idea, doesn’t it? But I wonder how productive it would be in the workplace. I know from personal experience, for example, how difficult it is to run, or even walk at a pace sufficient for a descent cardiovascular workout, while reading. I can’t imagine doing it while performing routine office tasks like keying or taking notes while talking on the phone. Unless, of course, the pace is so slow, as the literature suggests, that you don’t even breathe heavily. In which case, what’s the point?

Well, it turns out there is one. Experts say any amount of exercise is better than none at all. And Sean McCance, a co-director of orthopedic spine surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, points out that sitting still all day is bad for your spine. “When you remain in one position for too long,” says McCance, “your muscles get stiff, putting pressure on the discs of the spine.” By getting up and moving around every 30-45 minutes or so, your back gets to change position, your blood flow increases, and fluid flows back into the area to rehydrate the discs that cushion the spine.

So, if a Walkstation would fit in your cubicle — and your boss will allow it — check it out. It could be just what the doctor ordered.

Posted on Apr 25, 2008 at 08:00AM by Registered CommenterDoug in , , | Comments7 Comments

PrintView Printer Friendly Version

EmailEmail Article to Friend

Reader Comments (7)

No one would put this in their cubicle, it is probably meant for home workers who don't really need to get much work done.

April 25 | Unregistered CommenterPete

Don't say "no one". Steelcase is a big company and probably did a lot of research before committing money to build and market these to business. People in private offices who can keep a regular desk and have room for this too seem like logical candidates.

April 25 | Unregistered Commenterhankthetank

I would LOVE one of these in my office!! 10 minutes every hour adds up to an hour 20 at the end of each day. That would be good for lots of us.

April 25 | Unregistered CommenterJan

Sure beats sitting at the desk surfing the internet. At least you would be getting exercise.

April 25 | Unregistered CommenterGerald Posner

It looks ok but it can't compete with my setup here at Starbucks. Net surfing, people watching, a caramel mocha whipped whenever I want it, and did I mention? I even get a little work done! Beat that, Steelcase!

April 25 | Unregistered CommenterFran

I read the brochure and I think the "Sit-To-Walkstation" offers the best system. You can sit at the desk and do your work, but you just raise the desk, swing the articulated monitor arm to the left, step on the treadmill, and you get a mini workout. The only thing I can't find is the price. Does anyone know how much this is?

April 25 | Unregistered CommenterJessica

Now THAT's what I'm talking about, Fran!! You can sit at the desk or stand (which I wish I could do sometimes) or when you want to get a little exercise, change it to where you can use the treadmill, and then back again. Even I could get into that. I didn't dind a price either. Probably as much as a small car. I may call them this weekend to find out.

April 25 | Unregistered Commenterhankthetank

PostPost a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.
Author Email (optional):
Author URL (optional):
Post:
 
Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>