The evidence base on classroom active desks is limited by heterogeneous, weak study designs, preventing firm conclusions per desk type¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · quant-synthesis r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2021 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? The review reports heterogeneous quality of design and results across the 23 included studies, limiting comparisons and conclusions for each active desk type. → Guirado Terry 2021 q2 i? Risk-of-bias assessment found performance and detection bias at high risk in essentially all included studies. → Guirado Terry 2021 (2)

Evidence¶

Guirado Terry 2021¶

Guirado Terry, Chambonnière Camille, Chaput Jean-Philippe, Metz Lore, Thivel David, Duclos Martine. (2021). Effects of Classroom Active Desks on Children and Adolescents’ Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Academic Achievements and Overall Health: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062828

q2 · i? · review · r3

The review's abstract-level synthesis of 23 included studies. The authors state that "A heterogeneous quality of design and of results were observed limiting comparisons and conclusions for each active desk" and call the intervention promising despite weak methodology.

"A heterogeneous quality of design and of results were observed limiting comparisons and conclusions for each active desk. Despite the lack of strong methodology for the included studies, active desks appear to be a promising intervention in classrooms to improve health-related outcomes in children aged 5–17 years."

Guirado Terry 2021 (2)¶

Guirado Terry, Chambonnière Camille, Chaput Jean-Philippe, Metz Lore, Thivel David, Duclos Martine. (2021). Effects of Classroom Active Desks on Children and Adolescents’ Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Academic Achievements and Overall Health: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062828

q2 · i? · quant-synthesis · r2

Methods/risk-of-bias section: two authors independently assessed five bias domains with the Cochrane tool; Table 5 shows performance and detection bias rated high risk for all 26 study rows listed.

"Risk of bias was independently examined by two authors (CC and TG) using the Cochrane risk of bias tool [60] (Table 5). Selection bias, performance bias, detection bias, attrition bias and reporting bias were assessed."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Cycling desks increase students' classroom energy expenditure by around 36% relative to normal class hours — related
• Upright active desks reduce classroom sitting time and increase standing time in primary-school children — related
• Children using cycling desks showed improved inhibitory control and selective attention on some tasks — related
• Standing desks are associated with higher academic engagement in primary-school classrooms — related
• Musculoskeletal effects of active desks are mixed, with reduced neck discomfort in some studies and increased neck and shoulder discomfort in others — related