Standing desks are becoming increasingly popular in offices. They promise to increase productivity, reduce health risks and promote weight loss. The question is: do they really work?
The answer isn’t simple. It depends on the person using it, their height, what type of desk you get (some don’t go high enough), and how much time you spend standing versus sitting down at your computer.
But one thing is for sure: if you use a standing desk long enough, there will be noticeable benefits like improved circulation and better posture. Read on to find out more about the benefits, drawbacks, and how to get started!
What Is a Standing Desk?
A standing desk is a small table that you stand at to complete most of your tasks. Unlike regular desks, these “height-adjustable desks” often use electricity and motors to change heights so you can alternate between sitting and standing while working on the computer.
Benefits of Standing Desks
Standing Lowers Your Risk of Weight Gain
The biggest benefit of standing desks is that they can make it easier to maintain a normal weight. Sitting for more than three hours a day has been linked to an increased risk in obesity and heart disease.
Standing increases blood flow throughout your body, which means you’ll be burning calories at all times.
You Burn More Calories When Standing
Standing up typically means you’re holding 25% of your body weight. If you’re doing it for 8 hours a day, that adds up to about 150 extra calories burned each day (source).
Sitting less also increases your insulin sensitivity, which can help keep blood sugar levels healthy and reduce the risk of diabetes.
If you’re not standing at work, you should be.
Standing Decreases Back Pain Risk
Lower back pain is currently the second most common form of disability in the United States. It affects more than 800 million people worldwide. Standing desks can help reduce your risk of developing this condition by keeping your spine and back muscles in a natural, neutral position.
Standing Desks Help Improve Mood and Energy Levels
If you’re tired of feeling sluggish at work, standing desks might offer a simple solution. They’re also known to increase your energy levels throughout the day, for both men and women.
Standing Desks May Even Boost Productivity
Standing desks are becoming increasingly popular in offices. They promise to increase productivity, reduce health risks and promote weight loss.
Standing May Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease
Studies have shown that using a standing desk can reduce the risk of heart disease and obesity by 50%.
The importance of posture
People spend so much time sitting at their desk that they forget about good posture. And it’s too bad because maintaining a correct posture is one of the most important aspects of healthy, pain-free movement. It can also affect your mood and energy levels for the rest of the day.
Go for a walk every day
Posture is what you use to keep your body in the right position. If it’s not correct, all sorts of problems can arise throughout your body. For example, back muscles that are too tight can cause tension headaches and upper back pain.
And if you have constant shoulder tension, it could lead to upper back pain as well. Sitting for long periods of time with bad posture also leads to long-term complaints like chronic knee or hip injuries.
Exercising at least 30 minutes daily is one way to train good posture because it helps release tension in the muscles around your spine, shoulders and hips.
Getting regular exercise is critical if you want to prevent these types of issues from developing over time. This is especially true if you spend a lot of time sitting behind a computer at work.
FAQs
Are standing desks good for you?
Standing desks offer many benefits, including less weight gain and lower risk of heart disease. However, it’s important to remember that they’re not right for everyone.
For example, pregnant women are advised not to work at a standing desk. This is because of the potential risk of high blood pressure or miscarriage. If you’re in any way concerned about using a standing desk, always consult with your doctor first.
Why should we stand at work?
Sitting for long periods of time can lead to all sorts of health complaints, including both mental and physical issues. This is because it destroys the natural curve of the spine and pulls weak muscles out of position. Standing desks can help alleviate these issues because it forces your body into a natural position that reduces the risk of pain and injury.
Standing desks also burn more calories, keeping you fit and healthy. And if you’re looking to lose weight, standing while working is a great way to burn several hundred extra calories daily.
How much should you stand?
Standing for at least two hours every day has the potential to improve your mental and physical health over time, but it’s not always easy to do so. Standing all day can be tiring and hard on your feet, especially if your shoes don’t have good arch support.
How can you make standing easier?
There are many ways to make a standing desk more comfortable and less painful, including the following:
- Stand on a soft mat or pillow. This way, you can reduce pressure on your feet and back.
- Use a well-cushioned keyboard. This reduces the strain on your hands, wrists and arms.
- Stand close to work stations with lots of storage space so you don’t have to stand long distances to get things done.
Conclusion
Standing desks offer many benefits, but just about anyone can benefit from standing while working [at least to some extent]. Whether it’s to burn more calories, improve your overall health or just keep you feeling and looking energetic and in control.