Which active workstation is the best?

More and more negative effects are being reported from extended sitting times. One study even found that after 4 days of mostly sitting with no exercise, a 1 hour bout of vigorous exercise failed to improve the body's metabolic response. Some may find it difficult to incorporate more frequent bouts of exercise, and so, active workstations have become a way to exercise while working.

Investigators compared the benefits of standing, treadmill, and cycling workstations. Results showed that all of these active workstations contributed to short-term productivity benefits, and cycling stations enabled workers to process simple tasks more quickly.

Using treadmill workstations boosted upper-body muscular activity more than standing desks or cycling, however, the treadmill activity affected keyboarding motor skills. Both cycling and treadmill stations improved heart rate and energy expenditure, increased alertness and reduced boredom more than standing stations; however, cycling setups improved task-processing speeds the most.

"Ultimately workers and corporations should be able to critically examine the benefits and limitations of each type of workstation and determine which is most appropriate for worker's specific needs and tasks," researchers reported.

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Do you have any experience with any of these workstations or other workplace ergonomic aids?