Musculoskeletal Pain Reduced By An Activity-Based Work Environment

A recent study investigated the effect of an activity-based work (ABW) office environment on physical activity and sedentary behavior, work ability, and musculoskeletal discomfort. ABW is based on the premise that employees do not have an assigned workstation; instead, they are provided with a variety of predetermined activity areas that allow them to learn, focus, collaborate, and socialize. In the study, 88 office workers trialed ABW for four weeks, and at the end of the study, the researchers reported the workers spent less time sitting and more time standing and walking. The participants also reported less back pain following the four-week trial than they had in their more traditional work environment. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, July 2016