Sedentary lifestyles that involve prolonged periods of sitting have been linked to a variety of health problems, including obesity, heart disease and chronic back pain. Our bodies were not designed to be inactive for hours on end. Our biological processes, from metabolism to joint lubrication, rely on movement.
Many office workers are seeking to reduce the risk of back pain and other health problems by switching out their standard desks for standing desks. These allow you to maintain an upright position throughout the day and encourage more movement, as you're already on your feet.
Back pain commonly occurs while sitting due to the strain poor posture places on the lower back. Even for people with a developed core muscle group, the abdominal muscles eventually give out during an 8-hour day of sitting, leaving the lower back muscles with the brunt of the work. When standing, your lower back muscles are assisted not only by stomach muscles, but by muscles of the pelvis, buttocks and legs to support the upper body's weight.
Of course, standing all day in one position is almost as bad as sitting all day. Standing desks can be equipped with high stools and footrests to allow you to rest your feet and legs occasionally. As with a normal sit-down desk, it is also important to move around, such as by taking a few minutes to stretch every hour or taking brief walks around the office.
Most standing desks are very simplistic in design, involving a shelf for a computer, a shelf for a keyboard and sometimes an extra shelf or drawer for other belongings. Some are the length of regular desks, while others are simply made to be computer stations. Depending on the intricacy and features of the desk, the price can range from $150 to many thousands of dollars. The most expensive are the hydraulic adjustable desks that serve as both full-size sitting and standing desks.
Those looking for the cheapest option should consider a do-it-yourself desk. First, you'll need to know the ergonomic measurements of a proper desk. See http://notebooks.com/2011/05/03/standing-desk-guide-measurements-examples-and-benefits/ for important guidelines.
The possibilities of a do-it-yourself standing desk end with your creativity. You can stack phone books on top of your current desk and place a board on top of them to hold your monitor, and another board and lower stack of books for your keyboard. You can buy wall shelves and install them at the proper heights for a standing desk. So long as you maintain the proper measurements, you have created a the desk. An attractive DIY desk that can be made from IKEA components for little money can be found at http://www.ikeahackers.net/2011/01/wide-standing-desk.html.
Employers may also want to follow in the paths of Google and Facebook company heads by incorporating standing desks into their offices. Workers have reported increased energy and productivity throughout the day when standing.
When coupled with frequent movement, standing desks offer workers and students an easy way to prevent and resolve back pain. Talk with your employer about creating a more ergonomic work environment.
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