Putting Public Health Evidence in Action

Putting Public Health Evidence in Action StairWELL to Better Health

Taking the stairs is one way to be more physically active. At work, employees are often presented with a choice between taking the stairs and taking an elevator or escalator. Choosing the stairs instead of the elevator is a quick way for people to add physical activity to their day.

Using the stairs requires little additional time, no wardrobe change, and few additional costs because building code requires stairs. If your building has a staircase, why not start using it now? One of the reasons employees may not use the stairs as work is because they perceive them as unattractive and/or unsafe. CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity conducted a study beginning in 1998 to see if making physical changes to a stairwell in the Atlanta-based Koger Center Rhodes Building, combined with music and motivational signs would motivate employees to use the stairs. A four-stage passive intervention was implemented over 3½ years that included painting and carpeting, framed artwork, motivational signs, and music. Infrared beams were used to track the number of stair users. "StairWELL to Better Health" was a low-cost intervention (less than $16,000*), and the data suggest that physical improvements, motivational signs, and music can increase stairwell use among building occupants.**

This section will provide the information you need to transform your stairs into StairWELLs for better health. The following topics are addressed in this section:

 Stairwell Appearance  Motivational Signs  Installing Music  Other Ideas to Consider  Tracking Stair Usage  Project Checklist  Related Resources *This amount included the purchase of paint, carpet, rubber treading, picture frames, artwork, signage and installation of music.

** Kerr, N.A., Yore, M.M., Ham, S.A., & Dietz, W.H. (2004). Increasing Stair Use in a Worksite Through Environmental Changes. American Journal of Health Promotion, 18 (4): 312–315. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/hwi/toolkits/stairwell/index.htm Putting Public Health Evidence in Action

Stairwell Appearance  Carpet your stairwell if it isn't already, or if the carpet is in bad repair.  Add rubber treading for safety.  Paint the walls bright colors.  Hang artwork in the stairwell, if permitted. Other ideas for framed art include cartoons and children's art. Pictures should be changed periodically to keep stair users from getting bored.  See Project Check list for materials and budget worksheets  Be sure to leave room for motivational signs. The next page gives you examples of fun and functional motivational signs.

Motivational Signs

Putting Public Health Evidence in Action

Set 1 Set 2 1. Change happens one step at a time. 1. Step up to a healthier 2. and greener lifestyle. 3. I'm walkin'. Yes, indeed. (Fats Domino) 2. 4. 3. Burn calories. Stress 5. The victory is not always to the swift, but to those who less. Get healthy. keep moving. 4. 6. 5. Add years to your life 7. Physical activity will add years to your life, and life to your and life to your years. years. 6. 8. The first wealth is health. (Ralph Waldo Emerson) 7. Small steps make a big 9. difference. 10. In one minute, a 150 pound person burns approximately 8. 10 calories walking upstairs and only 1.5 calories riding an 9. There are 1440minutes elevator. in every day -- take 5 now. 11. 10. 12. Walking up stairs burns almost 5 times more calories than 11. Go green in your daily riding an elevator. routine. 13. 12. 14. There are 1440 minutes in every day…schedule 30 of 13. No waiting one door them for physical activity. over  nearest stairwell 15. 14. 16. No waiting one door over. 15. No waiting ne door 17. over 18. Small steps make big differences. 16. nearest stairwell  19. 17. 20. Raise your fitness level, one step at a time. 18. Burn calories, not 21. kilowatts. 22. Fight fat….Feel fit….Frequent these flights. 19. 23. 20. Raise your fitness level, one step at a time. 24. Step up to a healthier lifestyle. 25. 26. Take a little walk with me. (Muddy Waters) 27. 28. One step farther each day. You can do it. 29. 30. Now that you have refueled...