As part of our ambition to be the most active campus in the UK, the University is trialling a treadmill desk. The new treadmill desk allows you to walk and work at the same time, with the aim of helping colleagues to be active and healthy.

The treadmill desk is a moving walkway attached to a large table top. The height of the desk can be adjusted to allow comfortable use and it reaches a maximum speed of four miles per hour.

Currently being trialled in University House, over the coming months the treadmill desk will be stationed in various locations around campus to enable both staff and students to trial it.

The benefits of a system like this are to support those with back problems, for whom a seated workstation is not appropriate; there are also clear benefits realised through walking whilst you work.

Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Director for Sport and Active Communities, said

We're encouraging people to be as active as they can be, ideally on a daily basis. People are time poor, and this is a way of us taking the activity to them. Research suggests that ten minutes of exercise, three times-a-day, can be just as beneficial as exercising for 30 continuous minutes.

Not everyone enjoys the same form of exercise, but the treadmill desk is also helping to get people talking about being active. We can use the treadmill as a part of work place challenges. It’s all part of being an active campus."

Get involved

Interested in trialling the desk? Warwick Sport are putting together a schedule to allow the treadmill desk to be trialled by staff across the University. To express an interest in having the treadmill desk in your department, please email warwickactive at warwick dot ac dot uk with your details and potential location.

Health and safety guidelines, like wearing flat shoes, are being followed and staff inductions are given to ensure safe use of the equipment.