A standing desk, also known as a stand-up desk, is essentially a desk that lets you work from a seated position comfortably.
You can change the height of the desk and switch between sitting and standing with many modern versions’ adjustability.
Sit-stand desks, also known as height-adjustable desks, are examples of these.
Even though the research is still in its infancy, it appears that using a standing desk can have significant health benefits. It might also make work go faster.
Using a desk of this kind can at least partially mitigate the negative effects of sitting too much.
Here are seven benefits of using a standing desk:
Standing lowers your risk of obesity and weight gain.
Weight gain occurs when you consume more calories than you burn. Weight loss occurs, on the other hand, when you burn more calories than you consume.
Even though exercise is the most efficient method for rapidly burning calories, standing instead of sitting can also be beneficial.
In fact, standing for the same amount of time as sitting for an afternoon has been shown to burn over 170 more calories.
That is very nearly an additional 1000 calories consumed every week from just remaining at your work area every evening.
Using a Standing Desk May Lower Blood Sugar Levels
In general, your health is at risk the more your blood sugar levels rise after eating.
This is especially true for people who have type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance.
Standing for 180 minutes after lunch reduced the blood sugar spike by 43% in a small study of 10 office workers compared to sitting for the same amount of time.
The same number of steps were taken by both groups, indicating that the smaller spike was caused by standing rather than additional office movement.
Blood sugar spikes were reduced by 11.1% on average by alternating between standing and sitting every 30 minutes during the workday, according to another study involving 23 office workers.
Standing may lower your risk of heart disease.
The idea that standing is better for your heart health was first suggested in 1953.
According to a study, bus conductors who stood all day were half as likely to die from heart disease as their colleagues in the drivers’ seats.
Since then, scientists have gained a much better understanding of how sitting affects heart health. It is now believed that sitting for an extended period of time can increase the risk of heart disease by as much as 147 percent.
Because it is so harmful, even intense exercise for an hour might not be enough to offset the negative effects of sitting all day.
It goes without saying that spending more time on your feet is good for your heart.
Standing desks appear to reduce back pain
One of the most common complaints from people who work in offices all day is back pain. Several studies on employees with chronic back pain have been conducted to see if standing desks could help.
After several weeks of using standing desks, participants have reported an improvement in lower back pain of up to 32%.
Using a sit-stand desk reduced upper back and neck pain by 54% in just four weeks, according to another CDC study (13Trusted Source).
Within two weeks, some of these improvements were reversed when the sit-stand desks were taken out.
Standing desks appear to have a positive effect on overall health improve, which includes mood and energy levels.
One study that lasted seven weeks found that people who worked at standing desks were less stressed and tired than those who sat all day at their desks.
Additionally, 87% of standing desk users reported having more energy and vitality throughout the day.
Overall moods returned to their previous levels when they returned to their previous desks.
These results are consistent with broader studies on the relationship between sitting and mental health, which have found a link between sedentary time and an increased risk of both depression and anxiety.
Standing Desks May Even Boost Productivity
One common concern about standing desks is that they make it harder to do everyday tasks like typing.
Standing desks appear to have no significant effect on typical work tasks, despite the fact that standing every afternoon may require some getting used to.
Using a standing desk for four hours each day had no effect on the number of characters typed per minute or typing errors in a study of 60 young office workers.
Utilizing a standing desk is more likely to enhance productivity than hinder it, given that standing boosts mood and energy.
Standing More May Help You Live Longer
According to studies. Sitting for longer periods of time is strongly linked to early death.
Given the strong connection between sedentary time, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, this is not surprising.
In point of fact, a review of 18 studies revealed that people who sit the most are 49% more likely to die young than those who don’t sit the least.
Another review assessed that lessening sitting chance to 3 hours out of each day would raise the typical American’s future by 2 years.
Despite the fact that these observational studies do not establish a causal relationship, there is overwhelming evidence to suggest that standing more frequently could help us live longer.
It’s Time to Take a Stand
Reducing sedentary time can benefit mental, physical, and metabolic health. As a result, reducing sitting time and increasing standing time are significant lifestyle changes.
Sit-stand desks are available at most places that sell office furniture if you want to give this a try. One can also be bought online. It is suggested that you split your time between sitting and standing if you plan to start using a standing desk.
Question and Answer (FAQ)
How many hours per day should I stand?
It’s best to alternate sitting and standing, as too much of either can cause problems. Leg inflammation, muscle stiffness, and joint pain can all result from prolonged standing.
Do not suddenly switch to standing throughout the day from sitting. Begin by standing for 30 to 60 minutes each day and gradually increase to 2 to 4 hours each day.
During your eight-hour workday, you can divide these times into intervals of 10 to 30 minutes each.
How can I avoid standing all day with sore feet?
To forestall sore feet while standing, use an enemy of weakness mat, and wear agreeable, level shoes like running shoes, obstructs, non-slip shoes, or medical caretaker shoes.
Additionally, compression socks are beneficial because they maintain blood flow to your feet and reduce pain and discomfort.
While standing, consistently change around your situation to ease the heat off your feet. You can also use a stool to disperse your weight uniformly and ease each foot in turn.
Why does standing for a long time hurt my lower back?
Lower back pain can be caused by muscle strain, degenerative disc disease, or herniated discs, among other conditions.
While you should always consult your doctor for long-term solutions, gentle stretching, over-the-counter pain relievers, and hot and cold therapy can alleviate or reduce your pain.
Since poor posture is a common cause of back pain, your standing desk setup should encourage better posture.
Keep your keyboard and mouse within easy reach, place your monitor close enough to prevent leaning into your desk, and set the height of your desk so that your forearms are parallel to it.
Use an anti-fatigue mat and comfortable shoes to alleviate foot pressure and make standing upright easier. Lower back stiffness and pain can also be reduced by occasionally changing positions and stretching.
Is standing able to strengthen me?
Standing strengthens your core, back, and legs, as well as your balance. Although using a standing desk may initially be uncomfortable and taxing on your body, you will eventually become accustomed to standing frequently.
Why is standing more difficult than walking?
The heart cannot pump enough blood from your legs back up your body when you are standing upright.
As a result, blood builds up in your feet and ankles, resulting in numbness or pins and needles (paresthesia).
While you are standing still, your body is not taking a break; the back, neck, legs, and feet experience muscle fatigue as a result of its constant swaying and adjusting.
Conclusion
Standing up instead of sitting for long periods of time at work can improve your metabolic and mental health.
Standing desks are a great alternative that encourage more daily physical activity.
Standing too much can be harmful, just like sitting too much. It can cause varicose veins, inflammation in the legs, and hemorrhoids.
Find a balance between sitting and standing, not one extreme after another.
Spending more time on your feet can improve your mental health and reduce your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, all of which have long-term effects on your health.