Ergonomics

Dr. Mark Benden’s main ergonomic research is summed up in his book title, “Could You Stand to Lose.” With sedentary lifestyles contributing to a myriad of health problems, Dr. Benden’s research has focused on optimizing workspaces for position changes and regular movement for the benefit of worker health.  His research has shown active workstations not only combat sedentary behavior but increase energy levels, improve cognitive function and reduce musculoskeletal issues. 

Recognizing the benefit of adjustable height desks in the adult population, Benden conducted a longitudinal study on school children who used stand-biased desks and found children who used the desks had a statistically significant decrease in their BMI percentile. The study also found that students with stand-biased desks did not disengage nor disrupt the classroom learning when compared to seated counterparts. 

Benden also conducted groundbreaking research that quantified computer usage disruption during a natural disaster, specifically during Hurricane Harvey. The study, conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, found that employees return to their typical computer usage habits even when they could not return to their traditional workspace, an insightful finding for what was on the horizon a few years later. 

Benden is also an innovator and inventor holding 25 patents, most of which involve devices that aid the comfort of people who work at a computer station.