Obesity and heart disease are two of the top killers among Americans today. Both of these diseases can be linked to a poor diet and lack of exercise. In today’s environment, we spend most of our time sitting at home, or at the office, and don’t spend enough time being active and moving. Sitting for too long has become a major problem. In fact, many medical professionals are now talking about ‘sitting disease.’ Sitting for too long not only can cause us an early death, but our quality of life can suffer as well. When we sit in the same place for too long, our muscles begin to atrophy. This can lead to serious injuries if we aren’t careful.
One option to curtail this sitting problem is the stehpult. A standing desk allows you to stand at your desk, with your computer and keyboard raised up to the standing position. Using a standing desk is far healthier than sitting, and will also burn up to three times as many calories.
Standing desks have become extremely popular lately, and now they come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. Some even come with optional accessories like a built in treadmill or exercise bike (however, I am not sure sweating at work is a good idea).
If you are looking at standing desks, one of the best options is actually getting one that allows the user to sit or stand. We know the dangers of too much sitting; however there also is a danger if you are standing all day long. Standing for hours not only causes extreme fatigue, but issues with blood flow can also result. The ideal solution is the ability to stand when you have energy, and then sit when you get tired. For myself, I like to stand at work in the morning for 2-3 hours, and then sit during the afternoon.
Some of these “sit to stand” desks can get pretty expensive, so it is a good idea to check all of your options and find something that is right for you. Standing desks can adjust either manually (the whole table is on a hinge) or electronically, where at the push of a button, the entire desk can elevate or descend to your exact height and needs.
It is important to find a desk that is not only reasonably priced (desks can get really expensive) but also durable that it can withstand all the weight you plan on adding to it.
What the Standing Desk Can Do for Your Health
Sedentary lifestyles that involve prolonged periods of sitting have been linked to a variety of health problems, including obesity, heart disease and chronic back pain. Our bodies were not designed to be inactive for hours on end. Our biological processes, from metabolism to joint lubrication, rely on movement.
Many office workers are seeking to reduce the risk of back pain and other health problems by switching out their standard desks for standing desks. These allow you to maintain an upright position throughout the day and encourage more movement, as you’re already on your feet.
Back pain commonly occurs while sitting due to the strain poor posture places on the lower back. Even for people with a developed core muscle group, the abdominal muscles eventually give out during an 8-hour day of sitting, leaving the lower back muscles with the brunt of the work. When standing, your lower back muscles are assisted not only by stomach muscles, but by muscles of the pelvis, buttocks and legs to support the upper body’s weight.
Of course, standing all day in one position is almost as bad as sitting all day. Standing desks can be equipped with high stools and footrests to allow you to rest your feet and legs occasionally. As with a normal sit-down desk, it is also important to move around, such as by taking a few minutes to stretch every hour or taking brief walks around the office.
Most standing desks are very simplistic in design, involving a shelf for a computer, a shelf for a keyboard and sometimes an extra shelf or drawer for other belongings. Some are the length of regular desks, while others are simply made to be computer stations. Depending on the intricacy and features of the desk, the price can range from $150 to many thousands of dollars. The most expensive are the hydraulic adjustable desks that serve as both full-size sitting and standing desks.
Those looking for the cheapest stehpult option should consider a do-it-yourself desk. First, you’ll need to know the ergonomic measurements of a proper desk.
The possibilities of a do-it-yourself standing desk end with your creativity. You can stack phone books on top of your current desk and place a board on top of them to hold your monitor, and another board and lower stack of books for your keyboard. You can buy wall shelves and install them at the proper heights for a standing desk. So long as you maintain the proper measurements, you have created a the desk.
Employers may also want to follow in the paths of Google and Facebook company heads by incorporating standing desks into their offices. Workers have reported increased energy and productivity throughout the day when standing.
When coupled with frequent movement, standing desks offer workers and students an easy way to prevent and resolve back pain. Talk with your employer about creating a more ergonomic work environment.
