According to a new study by King’s College London, Brunel University London and the Anglia Ruskin University, many Brits are hesitant and have concerns about the belief that standing more at work will have a positive impact on their health.
It’s common knowledge that sitting too much is bad for our health. Those who sit for long periods of time have an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and early death. However, in general, the public is still hesitant to believe that a change such as using standing desks could play a big part in health improvements.
A standing desk is a desk that allows users to comfortably stand while working. There is a range of versions available and many modern ones are adjustable, which means that users can alternate between sitting and standing. These are known as height-adjustable desks or sit-stand desks. Here are some of the key benefits of using a standing desk:
Lower risk of obesity and heart disease
When compared to an afternoon of working while seated, over 170 additional calories were burned whilst standing over the same time frame. That’s close to 1,000 calories a week, just by standing.
Scientists have also found that prolonged seating increases the risk of heart disease by up to 147 per cent. The idea that standing is better for health has been long proposed. A study found that even an hour of intense exercise may not make up for the negative effects of an entire day spent sitting.
Back pain
For office workers, back pain is a common complaint if they don’t have an ergonomic workstation. A number of studies have been performed in this area and show that standing desks reduce back pain.
Participants have reported up to a 32 per cent improvement in lower back pain after several weeks of using standing desks. In another study, by the Centers for Disease Control, a sit-stand desk was found to have reduced upper back and neck pain by 54 per cent after just four weeks.
Productivity
Office managers may exclaim that the change would have an influence on their staffs’ productivity. Of course, the change will often take some getting used to, but standing desks have been found to have no impact on productivity levels, typing errors or characters typed by minute.
Other benefits include increased energy levels, mood and improved blood sugar levels.
If you are a company looking to ensure well-being for your team members, Positura provides a personalised healthy workplace programme which includes chiropractic experience, detailed knowledge of ergonomics and a DSE assessment.
Contact us today to request an assessment or for more information, call 07794 311 201.
