Some employees are finding ways to exercise without sacrificing productivity at work. But it sure looks funny.

Details, a subsidiary of Michigan-based office furniture maker Steelcase, is promoting it’s new “Walkstation” as a way of keeping healthcare costs down while improving employee fitness levels.

The exercise machine allows people to work on their laptops or other paperwork while on a treadmill — but the key is keeping below breakneck speeds. The Walkstation tops out at a leisurely 2 mph, so employees won’t be breaking into any major sweats while working on the latest reports.

Does such a slow treadmill really work? The machine is based on researcher James Levine’s work at the Mayo Clinic. According to Levine, the Walkstation provides health benefits through a process he dubs “non-exercise activity thermogenesis,” or NEAT.

Performing incremental movements on the treadmill is enough to burn 471 calories throughout the day.

It’s agreed that more research needs to be performed to show whether the Walkstation is cost-effective — the base model starts at $4,500, much more than typical treadmills.

Tags: Exercise, Mayo Clinic, Walkstation, Wellness