We’ve all spent hours crouched over a keyboard, back throbbing, shoulders rounded, as the clock ticks away. If you’ve ever found yourself in this unfortunate situation, consider the merits of standing while working.
Treadmills and standing workstations have become increasingly commonplace in recent years. Standing tables are becoming increasingly popular as a workplace bonus, with a recent study of HR experts reporting a 7% rise in their use over the past year. One of the healthy alternatives that are simple for companies to embrace and have a significant impact on employee morale is providing a standing desk.
The Benefits of Standing at Work
A standing desk is an excellent way to maintain your health, whether in a quiet private office or a busy coworking area. Consider these advantages of standing while working.
Calories Burned
Even if you remain still, standing consumes more calories than sitting. Now, the calorie differential between standing and sitting is not significant. The average person may burn between 100 and 200 calories per hour only by standing, whereas sitting only uses 60 to 130. However, it may accumulate over time.
In addition to helping you burn calories, working while standing up can also alter your frame of mind. Maintaining your mind in “wellness mode” is easier while standing up. A greater percentage of your day will be spent on foot. For instance, you may perform leg raises, squats, or jumping jacks while taking a little rest. Adjusting your routine can allow you to burn more calories without disrupting your job.
Improves Posture
Maintaining correct posture while working on a computer is facilitated by a standing desk designed with ergonomics in mind. You should bend your arms at a 100-degree angle at your sides, and the monitor should be 20 inches from your face at an angle of 20 degrees. Your weight should be distributed evenly between your knees while your wrists rest pleasantly on the keyboard.
Consistent standing can help you develop a good standing posture, which is less stressful on your spine than sitting. Stress on the spine and discs can cause pain in the back, shoulders, and neck during prolonged durations of sitting in an office chair.
Reduces Backache
You may attribute your back discomfort to too much sitting time, like bad posture, but it’s not inevitable. You may get rid of your mild back discomfort if you have a chair with good back and lumbar support and alternate sitting and standing throughout the day.
It is estimated that 80% of the population will suffer from back discomfort at some point in their lives, using data from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. If your discomfort persists after making simple modifications to your posture, please see one of our orthopedic specialists to determine if further treatment is necessary.
It Helps Maintain Blood Flow
When we consider our evolutionary history, we see that the human body was designed for motion. Standing is great for our legs, balance, and abs since it strengthens all three. We also take measures to avert the formation of leg blood clots. Long periods of sitting (as on an airplane) can cause blood flow to halt and pool in the legs. The worst-case scenario is developing a blood clot.
When we get out of a chair, we stretch our legs and increase blood flow to the rest of our bodies. Sitting for lengthy periods has been linked to poor cardiovascular health and, in turn, a shortened lifespan in certain research. A healthy lifestyle includes regular periods of standing.
Supports Proper Wrist Alignment
If you’ve ever typed on a laptop while sitting in your lap, you know that your wrists eventually fall and “rest” on the keys. Wrist discomfort and stress are possible results. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a pinched nerve in the wrist, can be exacerbated by incorrect wrist positioning (but keyboard use is not linked to CTS, as is commonly believed).
It’s important to watch how you’re using your wrists and how much stress you’re putting on your body on the job. Arms can be kept at a natural 90- to 100-degree bend when using a standing desk. In addition to being more comfortable, this posture can also increase efficiency.
Provides An Energy Boost
Researchers found that having a standing desk led to the increased time spent on foot among employees in a review of 53 research published in the Applied Ergonomics journal. Sixty-six percent of workers in the United Kingdom reported feeling more productive, and 87 percent reported feeling more invigorated after standing for just one hour every day. After analyzing the data, they decided to implement a Smart Work and Life program to get office workers moving about more.
Being active and moving around at random intervals throughout the day will keep you feeling awake and attentive. When you have to “think on your feet,” you feel more involved. If you’re feeling tired and unmotivated at work, try standing up for short periods throughout the day.
