Exercise at Work with an Under-Desk Pedal Machine

Do you sit at a desk all day wishing you could exercise at work? Heres a solution for you. Get a portable pedal machine to put under your desk - and pedal while you work. According to a new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, pedal machines help to offset the effects of too much sitting - a common problem among people with office jobs.

Exercise at Work: A Portable Pedal Machine Makes It Easier

Researchers tested under-desk pedal machines out on 18 full-time employees. These machines were equipped with a tracking device to monitor how fast the participants pedaled, how many calories they burned and how much distance they covered.

The results were gratifying. Employees who used a portable pedal machine during the day pedaled as far as 13.5 miles and burned up to 500 extra calories daily. More importantly, they thought the under-desk pedal machines were easy to use, and they didnt think it caused them to be less productive. Instead, it offered them a way to exercise at work instead of sitting all day.

Of course, not everyone in this small study pedaled 13.5 miles and burned 500 calories, but even 20 minutes of pedaling during the day would have benefits. According to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, sitting too much can have serious health consequences - even if you work out at a gym an hour or more before or after work. This study showed the more time a person spends sitting each day, the higher their mortality rate. Sitting too much also increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity - making people with office jobs at high risk for these conditions.

The Bottom Line?

You can buy an under-desk pedal machine for around $30.00, but itll probably be light-weight and may shift on the floor when you pedal it. Spend a little more and buy a heavier one that stays in place. Until then, take breaks to avoid sitting too long. Walk up and down the hall every 30 minutes or do a set of jumping jacks in your office. If you have a private office, bring a jump rope to work - or jog in place a few minutes every hour. Whatever you do, dont let your body go into hibernation mode during the day.

References:

Eurekalert.org. "Portable Pedal Machines May Help Counter Harmful Effects of Sedentary Jobs"