Floor Sitting Study

Beth Pyatak

Status: Enrolling

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

Treatments: Behavioral: Floor Sitting (30 minutes); Behavioral: Chair Sitting (30 minutes); Behavioral: Daily Floor Sitting Practice (1 month)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06606171

UP-24-00696

Details and patient eligibility

About

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).

Enrollment: 40 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

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

Exclusion criteria

• 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.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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40 participants in 3 patient groups

Chair Sitting Experimental Arm

Experimental group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Chair Sitting (30 minutes)

Floor Sitting Experimental Arm

Experimental group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Floor Sitting (30 minutes)

Extended Floor Sitting Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Daily Floor Sitting Practice (1 month)