Health & Wellbeing

Can this free-hanging footrest meet the same ends as a standing desk?

Can this free-hanging footrest meet the same ends as a standing desk?
Individuals using the Hovr are said to burn the same amount or slightly more calories as they would using standing desk
Individuals using the Hovr are said to burn the same amount or slightly more calories as they would using standing desk
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Individuals using the Hovr are said to burn the same amount or slightly more calories as they would using standing desk
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Individuals using the Hovr are said to burn the same amount or slightly more calories as they would using standing desk
The Hovr is available with an independent stand
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The Hovr is available with an independent stand
The Hovr is available with a mount that attaches to the bottom of a desk
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The Hovr is available with a mount that attaches to the bottom of a desk
Once the Hovr is installed and set up, the user needs only place their feet on the footrest to then benefit from its natural swinging
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Once the Hovr is installed and set up, the user needs only place their feet on the footrest to then benefit from its natural swinging
The Hovr app allows users to set goals, as well as measure distance traveled, calories burned and daily progress
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The Hovr app allows users to set goals, as well as measure distance traveled, calories burned and daily progress
Users can monitor their Hovr activity with an device for tracking movement and an accompanying app for Android or iOS
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Users can monitor their Hovr activity with an device for tracking movement and an accompanying app for Android or iOS
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Under-desk exercisers, such as the PediGlide or the Cubii, have been touted as a solution to the sedentary lifestyle affecting the health of people who work in offices. The Hovr is another take on the idea, providing a free-hanging footrest that encourages absent-minded movement of the legs.

Developed in partnership with the Mayo Clinic and the University of Illinois, the Hovr is aimed at increasing the amount a person moves without them having to leave their desk or even be conscious of movement.

The exerciser is available with an independent stand or a mount that attaches to the bottom of a desk. On both versions, a strap with two discs hangs down, with the user able to adjust the length of the strap and the distance between the discs. Once the Hovr is installed and set up, the user needs only place their feet on the footrest to supposedly benefit from its natural swinging motion.

The Hovr is available with an independent stand
The Hovr is available with an independent stand

The company claims that using the Hovr can burn around the same or slightly more calories compared to using a standing desk, but without any pressure on your joints. The company also pitches the device as letting you burn 17 percent or more calories compared to normal sitting, but you'll see some fine print there qualifying that statement with "depending on the person" (you could add that fine print to just about any marketing claim to make it "true").

While light movement will indeed burn more calories than no movement, it's hard to see the casual swinging motion we see in the company's promo video as making a huge difference towards your daily exercise goals. We suspect you could swing your legs and fidget on your own to burn similar amounts of calories.

The Hovr app allows users to set goals, as well as measure distance traveled, calories burned and daily progress
The Hovr app allows users to set goals, as well as measure distance traveled, calories burned and daily progress

The company is also making an optional activity tracker that lets you count your steps and distance while using the device – letting users set goals, as well as measure distance traveled, calories burned and daily progress. The marketing image above shows an Apple Watch running a tracking app as well, though the pitch is curiously lacking any mention of smartwatch apps.

An Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for the Hovr us under way. At the time of writing, pledges for a desk-mounted Hovr start at US$44 and for one with a stand at $79. Assuming all goes to plan with the roll-out, shipping is expected from July.

The video below is the Indiegogo pitch for the Hovr.

Sources: Hovr, Indiegogo

SitFlow - Indiegogo, 'Under Desk Swing Burn Calories Unconsciously'

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3 comments
3 comments
dsiple
Most desks have a drawer in the middle of the desk where you sit. That poses a question as to where to place the hanger. I see the standing frame contraption but don't think it would fit in the space under my desk………..
Douglas Bennett Rogers
Raising basal metabolic rate is the way to burn calories. This machine would help with moving around between workouts, which is also needed..
AdamZZZ
Horrible horrible horrible. Shipped over 4 months late. Then the service was the worst I've ever experienced. The product itself is terribly made with low quality materials. It fell apart immediately. The company will not issue refunds. Stay away at all expense.