The fact that many people spend too much time sitting down in their everyday lives is no longer exciting news. For this reason, more and more desk workers have been focusing on ergonomics when setting up their workstations for some time now. For example, they are equipping their home office with an ergonomic office chair and a desk that can be freely adjusted in height.
Health experts also highly recommend a desk that can be used for both standing and sitting work. But what are the actual health benefits of such a desk? The following article presents them.
Reduce tension and pain
People who spend most of the day in a seated, static posture often suffer from tension in the shoulders, neck and throat. Sitting for long periods of time also puts a lot of strain on the spine, which in serious cases can even lead to a slipped disc if sitting posture is poor.
However, such tension and pain can be effectively counteracted by standing up for a certain amount of time during the working day. A modern standing desk even allows height adjustment at the touch of a button.
Increased well-being and higher productivity
A lack of movement greatly impairs the ability to perform and concentrate. If the body always remains in the same static position, blood circulation suffers and the brain is not optimally supplied with oxygen. Focus is quickly lost during work.
Regularly alternating between sitting and standing work effectively prevents these problems. In addition, the working day immediately becomes much more varied and diverse. As the circulation is stimulated by the movement, the mood is lifted and general well-being is improved.
Improve fitness
The body generally uses more muscle groups when standing than in a seated position. Standing therefore also strengthens the muscles in the torso, hips, abdomen and back. The individual areas of the body have to actively work together. In addition, a few extra calories are of course burned due to the increased muscle activity.
To additionally strengthen the muscles, it makes sense to integrate other movement into the working day in addition to standing. This can be achieved, for example, by regularly changing position while standing. The weight can be alternately distributed between the legs. You should also take a few steps in between. There are also some stretching exercises that can easily be done while working.
Important: change your working position regularly
However, it would be a mistake to assume that standing alone will significantly benefit your health. However, it is even more crucial to regularly alternate standing and sitting postures during work. Standing rigidly in one place for hours on end can also put a lot of strain on the body.
Experts recommend that a little standing work should be carried out every 60 minutes or so. This should last at least ten to 15 minutes. In this way, standing for around 1.5 to two hours can be achieved in an eight-hour working day. However, the most important thing is to listen to your body’s signals at all times and test out without obligation which sitting and standing times are right for your personal needs.
Correct posture should be ensured not only when standing, but also when sitting. This prevents excessive strain on the arms, neck and spine. A right angle should be formed between the knee and leg. The office chair you choose should ideally be equipped with a backrest and perhaps even an additional lumbar support.