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Sitting PositionNCT07576413

Effects of Standing Desks and Intermittent Walking on Cognitive Fatigue

A study testing Performance of cognitive tasks in people with Sitting Position and Overexertion From Maintaining Prolonged Standing Position, run by Clarkson University at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The objective of this randomized-controlled crossover design was to identify inter-individual responses to the use of sitting desks, standing desks and two minutes of walking after twenty-eight minutes of sitting on the performance of cognitive tasks and moods in healthy undergraduate and graduate students. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 45 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Performance of cognitive tasks
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
31 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
1 Jun 2018to 15 Dec 2018
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 45 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • 18-45 years in age

Who cannot join

  • Use of any prescription medications for any chronic conditions
  • current acute illness
  • chronic illnesses
  • color blindness
  • inability to stand for 90 minutes

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site

  • Clarkson University

    Potsdam, New York, 13699

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Inter-individual Differences in the Effects of Sitting Desks, Standing Desks and Intermittent Walking on Cognitive Task Performance and Moods

The objective of this randomized-controlled crossover design was to identify inter-individual responses to the use of sitting desks, standing desks and two minutes of walking after twenty-eight minutes of sitting on the performance of cognitive tasks and moods in healthy undergraduate and graduate students. Participants were randomly assigned to an order of interventions and were asked to perform 26 minutes of cognitive tasks followed by completing 2 minutes of surveys where they were asked about their moods. Following the 28 minute cognitive battery participants were given a 2 minute break. In the seated condition participants performed all tasks on a seated desk and had to remain seated for their 2 minute break. In the standing condition participants performed the entire battery standing and had to remain standing for the 2 minute break. In the intermittent walking condition, participants performed all tasks in a seated condition and for their 2 minute break, participants were asked to walk for 2 minutes at a pace that they felt comfortable.

Read the detailed description

The current protocol has been used by Boolani, et al, 2017 to induce cognitive fatigue in college age individuals between the ages of 18-45 to test the effectiveness of cocoa and caffeinated cocoa in attenuating fatigue. It is our goal to explore the effects of standing desks as well as intermittent walking during cognitively fatiguing tasks and determine whether their use can attenuate mental fatigue in individuals between the ages of 18-45 years while performing cognitively challenging tasks.

Being tested
Performance of cognitive tasks

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Performance of cognitive tasksBehavioural

    Participants performed a series of cognitive tasks on all 3 days

Study groups in NCT07576413
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Sitting deskActive comparatorParticipants were asked to perform all tasks in a sitting condition
Receives: Behavioral: Performance of cognitive tasks
Standing deskExperimentalParticipants were asked to perform all tasks while standing
Receives: Behavioral: Performance of cognitive tasks
Intermittent walkingExperimentalParticipants were asked to walk for 2 minutes at a self-selected pace after 28 minutes of performing tasks while seated.
Receives: Behavioral: Performance of cognitive tasks

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Profile of Mood Survey- Short Form Vigor on a 0 to 20 scale from baseline to the end of the study

    Using the self-reported Profile of Mood Survey-Short Form participants reported their moods on the vigor scale of the POMS-SF

    Measured: 28 minutes, 58 minutes, 88 minutes

  2. Profile of Mood Survey- Short Form Fatigue on a 0 to 20 scale from baseline to the end of the study

    Using the self-reported Profile of Mood Survey-Short Form participants reported their moods on the fatigue scale of the POMS-SF

    Measured: 28 minutes, 58 minutes, 88 minutes

  3. Profile of Mood Survey- Short Form Tension on a 0 to 20 scale from baseline to the end of the study

    Using the self-reported Profile of Mood Survey-Short Form participants reported their moods on the tension scale of the POMS-SF

    Measured: 28 minutes, 58 minutes, 88 minutes

  4. Profile of Mood Survey- Short Form Depression on a 0 to 20 scale from baseline to the end of the study

    Using the self-reported Profile of Mood Survey-Short Form participants reported their moods on the depression scale of the POMS-SF

    Measured: 28 minutes, 58 minutes, 88 minutes

  5. Profile of Mood Survey- Short Form Anger on a 0 to 20 scale from baseline to the end of the study

    Using the self-reported Profile of Mood Survey-Short Form participants reported their moods on the anger scale of the POMS-SF

    Measured: 28 minutes, 58 minutes, 88 minutes

  6. Changes on the Profile of Mood Survey- Short Form Confusion on a -4 to 16 scale from baseline to the end of the study

    Using the self-reported Profile of Mood Survey-Short Form participants reported their moods on the confusion scale of the POMS-SF

    Measured: 28 minutes, 58 minutes, 88 minutes

  7. Changes in state mental energy were measured on a 0 to 300 scale from baseline to the end of the study

    Using the state mental and physical energy and fatigue scale participants reported their state mental energy.

    Measured: 28 minutes, 58 minutes, 88 minutes

  8. Changes in state mental fatigue were measured on a 0 to 300 scale from baseline to the end of the study

    Using the state mental and physical energy and fatigue scale participants reported their state mental fatigue.

    Measured: 28 minutes, 58 minutes, 88 minutes

  9. Changes in state physical fatigue were measured on a 0 to 300 scale from baseline to the end of the study

    Using the state mental and physical energy and fatigue scale participants reported their state physical fatigue.

    Measured: 28 minutes, 58 minutes, 88 minutes

  10. Changes in state physical energy were measured on a 0 to 300 scale from baseline to the end of the study

    Using the state mental and physical energy and fatigue scale participants reported their state physical energy.

    Measured: 28 minutes, 58 minutes, 88 minutes

Secondary outcomes (10)

  1. Performance on the concentration task grid

    A 100 square grid was used as a measure of concentration. The grid is arranged in a 10x10 square with each square containing a two-digit number (from 00 to 99) which are randomly placed in the center of each of the squares. Participants were asked to mark off as many consecutive numbers as possible starting from 00 within a one-minute pe-riod, by tapping on the desired square

    Measured: 15 minutes, 45 minutes, 75 minutes

  2. Performance on the continuous performance task

    Participants monitored a continuous series of letters (A-Z; Tahoma Regular font, size 20 point) presented on the screen for 1000ms and were asked to respond to the detection of the letter "X" only when preceded by the letter "A" by tapping on the screen or press-ing the "Space" key.

    Measured: 6 minute, 36 minutes, 66 minutes

  3. Performance on the distractor task

    Identify the correct responses on the distractor tasks

    Measured: 16 minutes, 46 minutes, 76 minutes

  4. Performance on the Erikson Flanker task

    During this task participants were first presented with a white fixation cross for 200ms, followed immediately by five equally sized arrows arranged in a 10.5cm horizontal ar-ray for 800ms. Participants were instructed to attend to the central arrow and ignore the four flankers. Participants were asked to press the left key if the central arrow was fac-ing left and the right arrow if the central arrow was pointed to the right. If all arrows were pointing the same direction (e.g. "< < < < <") then the trial was considered con-gruent. However, if the central arrow was pointing the opposite direction (e.g. "> > < > >") then the trial was considered incongruent. Subjects were presented with a 30 con-gruent and 30 incongruent trials in random order.

    Measured: 19 minutes, 49 minutes, 79 minutes

  5. Performance on the Paced Visual Serial Addition Task

    Participants were asked to start at the number 0 and add the digit shown on the screen (0-9). Participants were then asked to remember the previous number and add the next digit presented on the screen and type their responses on the keypad.

    Measured: 17 minutes, 47 minutes, 77 minutes

  6. Performance on the serial subtraction three task

    Participants were asked to silently subtract backwards in threes from a ran-dom number starting between 800 and 999 that was presented on the iPad screen

    Measured: 2 minutes, 32 minutes, 62 minutes

  7. Performance on the serial subtraction seven task

    Participants were asked to silently subtract backwards in sevens from a ran-dom number starting between 800 and 999 that was presented on the iPad screen

    Measured: 4 minutes, 34 minutes, 64 minutes

  8. Performance on the Rapid Visual Input Processing Task

    Participants were required to monitor a continuous series of digits (1-9; Tahoma Regu-lar font, size 20point) presented on the screen every 1000ms. The participants were given a primary, secondary, and tertiary task. The participant's primary task was to detect the presentation of three consecutive odd digits that were in ascending order (e.g. 3-7-9), the secondary task was to detect three consecutive even digits that were in ascending order (e.g. 2-4-8), and the tertiary task was to identify the number 6 when it was presented on the screen.

    Measured: 14 minutes, 44 minutes, 74 minutes

  9. Performance on the Stroops task

    Participants were presented words (Tahoma font, 20point), every 1000ms on a screen spelling the names of colors (i.e. blue, yellow, red, green), which were either congru-ent (words presented in the same color as the color they were spelling out such as the RED presented in red font) or incongruent (words presented in a color different from the color that they spelled out such as the word RED spelled in green font). Participants were presented with all five options of colors used in this test (red, green, yellow, black, and blue) and asked to press the color of the text (font color) and not the word presented on the screen. There were 30 congruent and 30 incongruent tasks presented in random order and participants were scored on the number of correct responses, number of incorrect responses, and the average reaction time for correct responses. Each test was scored separately for both congruent and incongruent tasks

    Measured: 18 minutes, 48 minutes, 78 minutes

  10. Performance on the Perceptual Fast Counting Task

    Participants were asked to press the number key that qualified with the number of dots presented on the screen. Each dot was approximately 0.5cm in diameter and the num-ber of dots on the screen ranged from 4 to 7. The number of dots was randomized across each trial and trials lasted 1 minute. Participants were scored based on number of correct responses, average reaction time for each correct response and the total num-ber of trials conducted in one minute

    Measured: 20 minutes, 50 minutes, 80 minutes

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted8 May 2026
  2. Study start1 Jun 2018
  3. Primary completion15 Dec 2018
  4. Study completion15 Dec 2018

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
31 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07576413
Sponsor's protocol ID
18-49.1
Status last verified
May 2026
First submitted
4 May 2026
Last updated
8 May 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Due to IRB restrictions no individual data will be shared with other researchers. All data will be reported as aggregate.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Performance of cognitive tasks in people with Sitting Position and Overexertion From Maintaining Prolonged Standing Position, run by Clarkson University at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Profile of Mood Survey- Short Form Vigor on a 0 to 20 scale from baseline to the end of the study (time frame: 28 minutes, 58 minutes, 88 minutes). The study lists 10 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07576413.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 May 2026.

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