Floor Sitting Study

NCT06606171 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: UP-24-00696
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the impact of different sitting environments on general well-being and movement patterns in healthy young adults aged 18-35. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does floor sitting lead to increased movement and postural changes compared to chair sitting? Over a month-long period, how does sustained floor sitting influence overall well-being, posture, and movement habits? Researchers will compare the effects of chair sitting and floor sitting in a controlled lab environment (Aim 1) and observe the longer-term effects of habitual floor sitting in participants natural environments (Aim 2) to see if consistent floor sitting promotes more dynamic movement and comfort. Participants will: Undergo two 30-minute experimental sitting sessions, one in a chair and the other on the floor, while engaging in typical desk activities (Aim 1). Participate in a month-long study where they integrate an hour of floor sitting into their daily routines, recording their experiences and any changes in sitting habits through daily diaries and in-depth interview (Aim 2).

Conditions

Well-being/Quality of Life; Posture; Sedentary Behaviors

Keywords

sedentary behaviors; sitting behaviors; ergonomics; posture; floor sitting; accelerometry; movement

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Changes in Movement Patterns via Accelerometry

  Measurement of movement patterns using accelerometry to assess changes in physical activity levels and subtle movements, including frequency, intensity, and duration of movements during different sitting interventions (chair vs. floor sitting).

  Recorded continuously during each 30-minute sitting session; analysis will compare aggregate data from the two sessions.

• Variations in Sitting Posture Captured by Video Analysis

  Utilization of video recordings to analyze and quantify postural changes during sitting sessions. This will involve evaluating variations in posture, such as shifts from upright to slouched positions, and identifying the frequency and diversity of postural transitions during each session.

  Postural data will be collected throughout the two 30-minute experimental sitting sessions, with comparative analysis conducted post-intervention.

Study Arms (3)

Chair Sitting Experimental Arm

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will undergo a 30-minute session of chair sitting in a non-swivel chair. Activities during this session include engaging in typical desk activities to simulate a natural office environment.

Behavioral: Chair Sitting (30 minutes)

Floor Sitting Experimental Arm

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will undergo a 30-minute session of floor sitting on a cushioned mat. They will engage in the same desk activities as the chair sitting arm to maintain consistency across conditions.

Behavioral: Floor Sitting (30 minutes)

Extended Floor Sitting Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will engage in daily floor sitting as part of their usual activities at home to assess the long-term effects of floor sitting on well-being and health.

Behavioral: Daily Floor Sitting Practice (1 month)

Interventions

Chair Sitting (30 minutes) BEHAVIORAL

This intervention involves a single session of chair sitting for 30 minutes, where participants will sit in a standardized non-swivel chair and perform desk-based activities like computer use.

Chair Sitting Experimental Arm

Floor Sitting (30 minutes) BEHAVIORAL

This intervention entails a single session of floor sitting for 30 minutes, with participants seated on a cushioned mat performing similar desk activities as in the chair sitting session.

Floor Sitting Experimental Arm

Daily Floor Sitting Practice (1 month) BEHAVIORAL

Participants will be instructed to incorporate at least one hour of floor sitting into their daily routine for a duration of one month.

Extended Floor Sitting Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• age 18-35 years
• English-speaking
• willing and able to complete study procedures.

You may not qualify if:

• Any injuries or conditions that would limit participants from sitting on the floor in a safe manner, mental states that would preclude the complete understanding of the protocol and compliance, and prior knowledge of the study hypotheses, as it may potentially influence participant behavior and compromise the integrity of the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Beth Pyatak: lead

Study Sites (1)

Lifestyle Redesign for Chronic Conditions Lab

Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sedentary Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Elizabeth A Pyatak

  University of Southern California

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Faculty Advisor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 18, 2024
• First Posted: September 20, 2024
• Study Start: October 25, 2024
• Primary Completion: June 30, 2025
• Study Completion: June 30, 2025
• Last Updated: April 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

US (1)