It is good to take care of your body as you would your car. You choose what kind of car you are going to drive or even what type of bike you will ride. In the same manner, your workspace and office environment must be consistent with the task at hand. One such example is an adjustable workstation or standing desk. In this blog post, we explore 8 incredible benefits associated with height adjustable standing desks.
- Core body strength
What is more important to you- your health or your paycheck? If you answered health, check out the latest research that indicates that sitting all day at work can be detrimental to your overall health. One such research study was recently published in the Journal of The American College of Cardiology and concluded that those who sit for long periods are at a higher risk for heart disease and even early death.
The article abstract states: “Prolonged sitting was associated with higher risk for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, and incidence of cardiovascular disease, independent of physical activity.” This means that sitting all day at the office or home increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and early death.
- Avoid RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury)
Do you work at a computer all day long? Do you like working on projects that require a great deal of typing and/or mouse clicking? If so, you might be suffering from repetitive strain injury (RSI). The Mayo Clinic reports that RSI can result in pain in different parts of the body including hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Over time, RSI can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome and degenerative joint disease. Side effects include depression, headaches, and even insomnia.
The solution- work out your fingers and hands by typing on an adjustable keyboard. An adjustable keyboard tray can also help relieve wrist and hand fatigue as this helps you raise your hand level with your forearm while typing. You can adjust the height of the monitor from the keyboard tray so that when you’re sitting, your eyes are directly in line with the monitor. This will help prevent eye strain or headaches.
- Improve spinal health
The spine and the discs between each vertebra need to be strong to support the weight of our body as well as allow fluid movement before, during, and after physical activity such as walking, running, or playing sports. According to Drs. Lippman and Meeuwisse (Mayo Clinic, 2008), “the discs are responsible for cushioning the bones throughout the movement. When the discs become inflamed, they can absorb too much of the shock from walking and running.”
How does it affect us? To help prevent back pain and improve spinal health, sit or stand at an inclined desk for 30 minutes a day or 15 minutes in the morning at first. If you already have back pain, try setting up your standing desk to go slightly incline- such as 10 degrees or less. The slight incline allows you to reduce pressure on your lower back while standing up as you work (similar to how people use a treadmill).
- Increased energy level
Do you need more energy to get through the day at work? You might have low blood sugar, which can lead to fatigue. First, see if your lunchtime snack is consistent with your body’s natural rhythms. The hormones that affect your metabolism also affect your neurology/cognitive function and can make you feel tired or like sleeping during work hours. In addition, humans are not designed to sit all day long (even if they do have an adjustable standing desk!). Humans need movement or change in position to “refresh” their mind and body so they can perform at a maximum capacity throughout the day.
- Decrease waist size
It seems as though a lot of people are dealing with weight gain nowadays. According to a recent CDC report, nearly 69% of American adults are considered obese or overweight. If you’re looking for ways to lose weight, the Mayo Clinic notes that losing even 5-10 pounds could lower your chances of developing heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure by up to 50%.
A standing desk that can be adjusted allows you to stand instead of sit while working- which will help you burn more calories throughout the day. You’ll also find that your posture improves as well as your energy level.
Conclusion
Do you work at a computer all day long? Is your workspace comfortable, ergonomically correct, and do you have enough room to get your body into the right position? If not, consider raising the height of your desk and purchasing an ergonomic chair. It will change the way you think about movement throughout the day. You’ll be more energized, reduce pain and improve spinal health. The best part is that you can use an adjustable standing desk that helps relieve RSI as well as reduces clutter in your home or office space.