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In today's increasingly automated society, people in the workforce are finding that their lives are becoming more and more sedentary. More and more people are starting to pay attention to the health benefits of standing desks. The majority of office jobs require employees to sit for extended periods, anywhere from six to twelve hours a day. In addition to the time spent in the office, one must also factor in time spent commuting or enjoying sedentary activities outside of work.

All of this combines to create an unhealthy environment for the average office worker. Multiple studies have been conducted to show how detrimental sitting can be to one's health and productivity. For example, a study by the American Cancer Society conducted on 123,000 adults found that sitting for more than six hours in a day increased mortality by up to 37% (note 1).  In this paper, we will discuss the health benefits of standing desks that allow users to switch to a standing position as well as the harmful effects of prolonged sitting. In addition, we will discuss the proper way to use a sit-stand desk and the health benefits of standing desks.

What is Sit-stand Desks (Height-adjustable Desks)?

A height-adjustable desk allows individuals to improve their posture and fight against the harmful effects of sedentariness. Electric columns for ergonomic workstations are designed to operate smoothly and silently and enable users to adjust their worktops with a simple command.

Whatever the sector or industry, a height-adjustable desk offers many advantages for the health of individuals and the company.

Health Benefits of Standing Desks

1. Better Circulation

Standing desks promote better circulation in the body, helping to reduce the risk of cardiovascular issues mentioned above. A standing position allows for easier and more rapid blood flow throughout the entire body, delivering oxygen to the muscles. This not only helps to prevent serious heart issues, but also improves focus, concentration, and energy. Also, standing up elongates the lungs, allowing for more oxygen and higher mental function. There have been several studies that link standing to these psychological benefits. 

2. More Energy, Higher Productivity

Better circulation, in turn, positively impacts overall well-being. Standing desks are also linked to enhanced brain function, promoting cognitive abilities and mental clarity. Users often report experiencing more energy throughout the day, and the calorie expenditure associated with standing can contribute to weight loss.

Psychologically speaking, one of the health benefits of sit-stand desks is their positive effect on one's mood. In a study published by the National Institute of Health, called the &#;Take-a-Stand Project,&#; employees with sedentary jobs were observed with and without using sit-stand desks. During the time they were using the height-adjustable desks, they reported high mood levels in the form of increased vigor, energy, and happiness. However, when they returned to their normal sitting desks, their mood levels returned to baseline.  

3. Better Posture

Standing desks are associated with higher productivity, fostering a more dynamic and engaged work environment. They also encourage better posture, reducing the strain on the spine and mitigating potential musculoskeletal issues. Embracing standing desks is a holistic approach to well-being, combining physical health, mental acuity, and workplace efficiency.

Now that we have established the many benefits of sit-stand desks, it is important to know how to use them.

Here are  some tips to help you make full use of your adjustable standing desk:

1. Alternate Positions

Just as sitting all day is not good for your health, neither is standing all day. Standing for hours on end can lead to back and leg pain, as well. It is recommended that you switch positions every 30 to 60 minutes. An optimal ratio of sitting to standing time is 1:1 or 2:1, meaning every hour or two hours of sitting time should be matched by an hour of standing time (note 2).  If you are someone who has not used a standing desk before, you might find it difficult to stand for this amount of time at first. You should start by standing for short amounts of time and then ease your way into standing for longer periods. 

2. Maintain Optimal Posture

To use your sit-stand desk effectively, it is important to maintain proper posture. Your elbows should be at a ninety-degree angle, and your monitor should be at eye level. Take care to make sure that you are not hunched over or straining your muscles in any way. The best way to ensure that you are operating at an optimal height level at all times is to invest in a desk that has a memory function. This will allow you to program different height settings that will transform the desk into the best position for you just by pushing a button. 

3. Protect Your Feet

When you are standing for long periods, it is always a good idea to wear comfortable shoes with arch support. This will help prevent long-term medical issues and discomfort. Additionally, it is a good idea to invest in an anti-fatigue mat. These mats provide cushion support for hard floors and keep you slightly off-balance, forcing your muscles to contract and circulate blood more easily. 

4. Keep Moving

Although standing is a vast improvement over prolonged sitting, it is not enough in itself to eliminate all of the risks associated with the sedentary office lifestyle. Instead, office workers should make efforts throughout the day to move more, whether that's taking more bathroom breaks, walking to the water cooler, or walking over to a coworker's desk to discuss something as opposed to sending an . Having a height-adjustable desk encourages more of this type of movement since users find it easier to move once they are in a standing position. 

5. Know When to Sit and When to Stand

People who have started to use a height-adjustable desk may notice that they find certain tasks easier to do in different positions. There are indeed certain tasks that are more suited to sitting than standing, and vice versa. The consensus is that sitting is optimal for more focused, writing-intensive work while standing is optimal for more collaborative work. 

Harmful Effects of Prolonged Sitting

1. Reduce Circulation

One of the main byproducts of prolonged sitting is reduced circulation in one's body. When sitting, blood flows much slower throughout the body, and fluid tends to pool in the legs. The exchange of oxygen to cells is not as efficient as it would be in a standing position. In a sitting position, one's arteries are more easily clogged by fatty acids. This can lead to a host of other problems, such as varicose veins, swollen ankles, blood clots, strokes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and even heart attacks. 

In addition to the damage done to the heart, sitting can also negatively affect another organ: the pancreas. The pancreas is responsible for producing insulin, which carries glucose to cells throughout the body, resulting in energy. However, when these muscles are idle, they do not respond very well to insulin. This tricks the pancreas into producing more insulin than what is needed, potentially leading to disorders like diabetes. 

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2. Weight Gain

Weight gain is also a negative side effect of a sedentary lifestyle. One reason for this is that sitting slows down the enzyme in our bodies called lipoprotein lipase, which is a fat-burning agent (note 3).  In a study conducted by researcher James Levine of the Mayo Clinic, a group of office workers was monitored according to their daily movements about weight gain. The findings indicated that those who sat 2.25 hours less than their peers did not gain weight, while the more sedentary ones did (note 4).  In addition, another study indicated that standing at one&#;s desk for an afternoon as opposed to sitting can result in burning an extra 170 calories (note 5).  Over time, that amount will quickly add up to make a sizable difference in one's weight and overall health. 

3. Bad Posture

Sitting for extended periods also wreaks havoc on one's posture and comfort. When one sits, his or her spine morphs into a &#;C&#; position, which compresses the spinal discs unevenly. This distributes the body weight disproportionately to the tailbone, causing collagen to harden around tendons and ligaments. This puts people who sit for long periods at risk for herniated lumbar discs. In contrast, a healthy spine is in an &#;S&#; position, allowing discs between vertebrae to soak up fresh blood and nutrients. Frequent sitters might also notice pain in their backs, legs, necks, and shoulders caused by this unnatural state of the spine. They are at risk of muscle degeneration since sitting does not require the use of certain muscles, such as the abdominals and the glutes, causing them to deteriorate over time.

4. Greater Risk for Cancer

Perhaps most frightening of all, studies have drawn a connection between prolonged sitting and a greater risk for certain types of cancer. In a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers found that people who spend more time during the day sitting have up to a 66% higher risk of cancer than those who are more active (note 6).  In addition, a study by the American Cancer Society reported that women who sat more than six hours a day were more susceptible to developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and the blood cancer called multiple myeloma (note 7).  So how is sitting for long periods related to cancer? There are a couple of theories as to why this is. It could be that excess insulin spurs cell growth. Another possible factor is that routine movement allows for more natural antioxidants that destroy cell-damaging agents. Whatever the reason may be, it is hard to ignore these connections. 

As evident from the health hazards above, prolonged sitting is not natural or healthy for one's body. Many people erroneously believe that they can negate the side effects of prolonged sitting by simply performing the recommended amount of daily exercise. However, multiple studies have proved this to be wrong. While regular exercise will help reduce the risk of some of these factors, it will not erase them. The solution is not to exercise more, but to sit less (note 8). As more and more people are realizing this, workplaces are making an effort to incorporate ergonomic furniture for their employees. The best way to improve employees's health and productivity while in the office is through the use of sit-stand desks. These desks allow users to switch between sitting and standing, giving their bodies a respite from long periods of sitting. There are many benefits associated with these flexible workstations. 

Conclusion

 The health benefits of standing desks are countless. Sit-stand desks are the solution to today's dangerous sedentary lifestyle. If you follow these recommendations for height-adjustable desks, then over time you should start to notice a vast improvement in your health, productivity, and mood. Starting small with your sit-stand desk and then building up to a greater amount of time spent standing will help normalize your body's association with being more active, causing you to live a less sedentary lifestyle. For more information on height-adjustable workstations, please contact our local sales department!

Insights

The pros and cons of height adjustable desks

Over the last few years, height-adjustable desks have gone from an office novelty to a more permanent and sought for feature. This is especially due to people becoming increasingly more aware of the harmful effects sitting for long periods of time has on their health. In fact, it has even been said, while a dramatic statement, many medical experts now believe this to be correct.

Height-adjustable desks have given those who work in offices a new ray of hope as they allow employees the choice to work both sitting and standing. However, despite the advantages of a height-adjustable desk, it&#;s not for everyone. So, it&#;s important to weigh out the pros and cons before making a decision. In this article we provide you with all the information you need to know before making a purchase.

The pro&#;s &#; what are the benefits of height adjustable desks?

An average office worker is said to sit for 15 hours a day &#; of course not just in the office. However, this is a shockingly large amount of time, so there is no wonder that employee health is a growing concern. This is especially due to the health impacts that sitting for long periods of time has. 

 Research has shown sitting for more than 8 hours a day can result in a heightened risk of early death and cardiovascular disease, the risk of type 2 diabetes is also said to increase the longer you sit each day.

So, the obvious pro of height-adjustable desks is of course the positive health benefits it has on workers. Height-adjustable desks encourage employees to stretch their legs more at regular intervals due to their flexibility, allowing workers to alternate between sitting and standing whilst working. But what are the other pros?

• Improves productivity:

  Plenty of research has shown that productivity increases while someone is standing at their desk because they feel more motivated to complete their tasks for the day

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• Promotes up to 20% more mental activity:

  According to experts, human brain activity increases by up to 20% when working at a height-adjustable desk. This results in faster, higher quality decision-making processes.

• Time saving:

  The increased efficiency found when employees work at a height-adjustable desk, saves time in the long term. These sit-stand desks increase efficiency by at least 10% meaning work is finished more efficiently and so allows for more time to move on to other projects. In addition, absentees with conditions caused by permanent sitting (such as back pains) are reduced. One study revealed 47% of people with height-adjustable desks reported a significant reduction in upper back, shoulder, or neck discomfort.

• Saves money:

  That brings us to our next point, employees that are not constantly distracted by fatigue, neck tension or back pain will work more efficiently. According to a study by Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering, German companies incur an annual loss of 35 million euros due to absentees and reduced productivity caused by back problems alone. Therefore, less absentees serves profitability for a company as well &#; saving money in the long term.

• Improved meetings:

  A study by behavioural experts showed that people communicate significantly better when standing compared to sitting. At standing meetings, the voice is said to be fuller, more dynamic, and more convincing which helps to increase overall performance of meetings.

To find out more about the benefits, visit our blog all about the benefits of height adjustable desks. But now, we shall move onto the cons.

The cons &#; What are the cons of height-adjustable desks?

While it&#;s proven that height-adjustable desks do have their health benefits and can most definitely result in improved productivity from workers, they do come with cons too.

One con is that there is a risk your workers don&#;t reap from the benefits a height-adjustable desk provides because they either are not given any direction on how to use them, or because they just don&#;t meet their needs.

Dr April Chambers at The University of Pittsburg warned that providing height-adjustable desks to employees without any guidance or instructions on how to use them will mean they may not see the benefits, so therefore the purchase will end up being a waste of time. She said if you are purchasing a height-adjustable desk for your business, employees should be taught how to set up their desk and shown the appropriate height it should be raised and how it can be used.

Counterarguments for height-adjustable desks also state that creative work such as writing or designing is significantly more difficult whilst standing, rendering them useless to those who work more creatively. Some workers have complained that the discomfort of standing for long periods of time makes them take breaks from their desk more often, even when they feel motivated to continue working. This could easily be solved though with a height-adjustable desk, where the employee has the option to sit or stand.

It&#;s important not to forget that standing, especially for prolonged periods, carries risks too. For example, it can contribute to poor posture, sore feet, and tightened joints. Therefore, when using a height-adjustable desk, it is better to alternate between standing and sitting to gain the most benefit from it, rather than doing too much of one or the other.

Another disadvantage is that a height-adjustable desk will be quite clearly more expensive than a standard desk. Nevertheless, considering the pros, it becomes clear that the investment in the long run will pay for itself.

Height-adjustable desks from Haiken

Height-adjustable desks can be a worthy investment due to their many health benefits, provided employees receive guidance on how to use them to fully reap the benefits.

At Haiken, we provide a variety of height-adjustable desks including Flexure which provides endless opportunities for flexibility with its telescopic frame, and of course, our robust Wolfe desk that offers maximum strength for minimum weight.

Are you hunting for height-adjustable desks for your workspace? Contact our friendly team at Haiken today and we will be more than happy to help you find the perfect fit.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit best electric height adjustable standing desk.