If you’re sitting while reading this, think about the way your body feels right now. Are your shoulders hunched forward? Do your eyes feel strained? Are you beginning to suffer from tech neck?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, the answer to your problems might be a standing desk. If you answered no, we’ll bet you’re already using a standing desk — look at you go!
Why a Standing Desk vs. a Normal Desk?
Americans sit for almost 10 hours per day. Research has linked long periods of sitting to a number of health concerns, including obesity, high blood sugar, increased blood pressure levels, excess body fat, and a host of posture-related problems that will leave you needing to visit a chiropractor. Some health professionals even say that standing is the new smoking in terms of the detrimental effects it can have on your overall health. Using a standing desk instead of a normal desk while working encourages less time spent sitting, and more time spent standing. It can also increase your productivity levels at work!
The Benefits of Using a Standing Desk
While the research into the benefits of a standing desk are still relatively new, studies have shown that standing desks can increase both your productivity and your overall health and wellness.
1. You’ll Burn More Calories
Standing burns about 100-200 calories per hour, while sitting burns between 60-130. It might not seem like a major difference, but over time it will add up.
2. Standing Improves Your Posture
Standing at a standing desk that has the correct ergonomics will help you to have better posture at your computer. Your computer monitor should be at eye level and if you’re standing correctly, you should be able to imagine a vertical line being drawn from your ear down to your shoulder. The correct posture reduces pressure on your back and discs and prevents the pains from tech neck developing.
3. You’ll See An Increase In Energy Levels
Researchers in the UK found that 66% of workers felt more productive while standing and 87% felt more energized by spending just one hour of their work day standing instead of sitting.
4. Improvements In Blood Circulation
Our bodies are made to move and sitting for long periods of time, like on a plane or at work, can cause blood to slow and pool in your legs. In worst cases, this can cause a blood clot. When standing, we improve our core strength, balance, leg muscle strength, and allow blood to optimally circulate.
5. Lowers Your Risk of Disease
2 million deaths every year are attributed to physical inactivity; preliminary findings from a WHO study on risk factors suggest that sedentary lifestyle is one of the ten leading causes of death and disability in the world. Standing lowers your risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and other health problems.
Take a Stand with Our Top Picks
You don’t need to break the bank to find a standing desk. In a pinch you can use books or a cardboard box to raise your monitor to eye-level, regardless of whether you’re standing or sitting. If you’re planning to implement more standing into your work day, start small with 30 minute intervals of standing and sitting and prioritize your posture.
This standing desk convertor can turn any surface into a standing desk. It stands at just 2.4 inches tall, and can rise up to 16.4 inches high, so whether you’re standing or sitting, you can optimize your posture, health, and wellbeing.
This gorgeous, adjustable desk comes in 3 different finishes so you don’t need to worry about it being an eyesore in your space. We’d recommend adding a laptop riser, like this one, to make sure your screen remains at eye level. Not today, tech neck!
With just the press of a button, this desk can rise and lower to your preferred height. While it’s definitely more costly than our other picks, remember that this is an investment into your long-term health.
Whether you’re currently using a standing desk or just remembering to take standing breaks while working, remember that the first sign of pain or discomfort should be addressed as soon as possible. Seeking care from a chiropractor can help to both alleviate symptoms and improve your posture and spinal alignment. Contact Keith Clinic Estramonte Chiropractic for an evaluation if you frequently suffer from the effects of sitting too long and want to prevent it from causing further damage.
If you have any further questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call a Keith Clinic Estramonte Chiropractic location or request an appointment online today.