People stoop over a computer with their backs hurting and shoulders slumping while working; hasn’t everyone been there. Many people have pondered the health advantages of standing at work when they’ve been in this situation.
The use of treadmills and standing desks has grown in recent years. According to a recent study of HR professionals, the usage of a standing desk in the workplace climbed by 7% in 2021. Standing desks are cost-effective and employee-pleasing office furniture that promote good health and well-being in the workplace.
Why Standing at Work Has Advantages
The health benefits of using a standing desk at work can’t be overstated, regardless of where you do your job. Here are the advantages of working while standing.
Calories are burned in the process.
Even if you stand motionless, you’ll burn more calories than sitting. Standing vs sitting doesn’t burn a significant number of calories. Standing burns between 100 and 200 calories every hour. However, the sums can mount up over time.
Standing all day at work burns calories and shifts your perspective. You’re more likely to keep your mind in “fitness mode” while standing up. You’ll be out and about more frequently over the day.
Provides a Quick Shot of Energy
According to a study conducted in Australia, standing for an hour a day increased productivity by 66% and invigorated workers by 87%. Because of the findings, the Smart Work and Life programme was created to motivate office workers to be more physically active.
You may keep yourself awake and aware by moving around a little bit each day. When you have to “think on your feet,” you get more involved. Standing breaks might assist you in regaining some of your lost energy and excitement throughout your shift if you’re experiencing fatigue.
Posture is improved
Ergonomic standing desks can help you maintain a healthy posture while working at a computer. Your arms should be bent at a 100-degree angle at your sides while your monitor is at eye level, around 20 inches away from your face with a 20-degree tilt. Position your hands above the keyboard with your weight evenly distributed between your legs.
Standing often will help you develop good posture and prevent the compression of your spine when you sit. You may get back, shoulder, and neck pain if you sit for a prolonged time.
Relieves back pain
Back discomfort, like bad posture, isn’t something you have to live with or tolerate as part of your employment. The best way to alleviate mild back discomfort is to alternate times of sitting and standing on a supportive chair.
There are 8 out of 10 people who suffer from back discomfort at some point in their life, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIH). It may be time to see orthopaedic specialists if your discomfort doesn’t improve with some simple posture modifications.
This is beneficial for wrist positioning.
Your wrists may have started to “rest” on the keyboard when typing on a laptop. Wrist strain and soreness are possible outcomes of this. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is characterised by a pinching of the median nerve in the wrist, which can be exacerbated if the wrists are kept in an unnatural position.
The posture of your wrists and the pressure on your body as you work are essential to keep in mind. If you work at standing desks, you can easily bend your arms at a 90-100 degree angle. In many cases, working in this position is more comfortable and may even help you type faster!
