Does Working on a Treadmill Desk "Work"?

You should stand up for this. Walking while you work can help you burn several more calories an hour than sitting. We've been advocates for standing desks for quite some time now for their ability to combat "sitting disease" and a hodgepodge of health-related issues.

While standing at work is garnering popularity, treadmill desks are slowly becoming more popular. There are a few questions many people want to have answered before purchasing a treadmill desk: First, will performance and productivity improve while working? Second, how will your treadmill affect the people you work with?

Let's talk about performance and productivity. Contrary to what some may think, keeping a relatively slow pace on a treadmill (1-3 mph) can help you to focus more intently on your work as it redirects your appetite for distraction, and this can improve productivity.

And yes, it still burns calories! Our CEO Jon Paulsen walks throughout the day on his desk treadmill, as does Dr. Michael Roizen, the Chief Wellness Officer of the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Roizen delivers a weekly "treadmill talk" on timely medical topics as he walks on his treadmill. He discusses why we are so tired on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and he suggests a treadmill desk for the holidays!

Now let's talk about the sound factor. Perhaps another hurdle that keeps people from buying a treadmill desk is worry about noise or sound issues in the office. But there's no need to worry, treadmill desks aren't noisy at all. People who use our treadmill desks note that their colleagues don't even hear the low hum coming from their treadmill, and even if you are talking on the phone while walking on your treadmill, the person on the other end can't hear the sound either.

Even if you are the only one in your office with a treadmill desk, you're not alone. For treadmill desk users looking to share their fitness goals with others, camaraderie can be found in an online forum called Office Walkers.

A treadmill desk will help you reach your fitness goals even if you don't have time to hit the gym every day. Imagine logging five miles on a treadmill while you work, rather than getting up at 5 a.m. to go to the gym. You can read the NY Times article here, where a user did just that to get fit.

Here at Human Solution, we have several affordable options to get you walking throughout the day. You can purchase a treadmill workstation setup like the UPLIFT Complete Desk, which comes with ergonomic essentials such as a Humanscale keyboard tray, monitor arm and CPU holder. You can construct your own setup by purchasing the LifeSpan treadmill separately, or you can check out our UPLIFT desks to pair with the treadmill.

Just keep sizing and space in mind: without a chair, a 48 inch desktop will be fine. If you'd like to add the chair in as you adjust to using the treadmill, make sure you look at a desk with a width of 66 inches or more.

If you'd like to find out more about using a treadmill at work or even would like to just start standing, please reach out to us! You can email info@humansolution.com, talk to an expert in live chat, or call us at 800-531-3746