Many of us have jobs that require sitting – lots of sitting. We spend an average of 7.7 hours sitting a day and up to 15 hours a day. It has been widely recognized that sitting regularly for long periods of time is detrimental to health, contributing to chronic pain problems, weight gain and other health risks. Sitting can also affect work performance resulting in low concentration and productivity, heart disease, and increased cholesterol. If you are struggling with chronic back pain, fatigue or other health issues caused by sitting, an occupational therapist (OT) can help! Our OTs are trained in ergonomics, the study of people’s efficiency in work environments, and can help you get back to a more productive and efficient work environment. One recommendation an OT can suggest is the standing desk.
Standing desks are desks that allows you to stand comfortably while working. There are adjustable versions which allow you to alter the height between sitting and standing, these are called sit-stand desks. In the last few years there has been research done on the benefits of standing desks. Although research is still in its early stages, standing desks show benefits including increased productivity and standing desks are shown to partly negate the negative effects of sitting.
The benefits of standing desks:
Ergonomic benefits:
Have you been suffering from chronic back and/or neck pain? This is likely caused by sitting for long periods of time. There are several negative effects from sitting such as backaches, neck & shoulder pain, leg cramps, headaches, and visual issues.
While sitting, you don’t have a chance to use your own muscles as much to support your body since a chair supports your back. This results in the compression of chest and abdominal cavities, slouching shoulders and rolling of the spine. In addition, this can cause back pain and repetitive stress injuries.
A standing desk helps to alleviate back pain and other repetitive stress injuries by engaging the core and back muscles and improving posture. Sit-stand desks have similar benefits; they relieve stress on the back, strengthen muscles, and reduce the risk of spinal shrinkage. Several studies have been done on the effects of sitting and chronic pain. In one study, over 30% of workers reported improvement of back pain after weeks of using a standing desk. In addition, one study showed that removing sit-stand desks from a work environment reversed the improvements of sit-stand desks.
Lowers risk of weight gain and obesity:
Sitting for long periods of time decreases fat burning enzyme efficiency, blood circulation, and can increase fatigue. One study found that workers who used standing desks during the afternoons instead of sitting burned on average over 170 more calories than their sitting coworkers. Over time, this adds up and can have a huge positive effect on your health.
Improve mood & energy levels:
Using a standing desk has been shown to improve mood and energy levels and decrease stress and fatigue. In fact, 87% of participants in one study reported to have more vigor and energy. Once they returned to their old desks, these positive effects were reversed.
Other benefits of sit stand desks:
– Increased productivity
– Decreased lost time at work
– Increased quality of work
– Decreased absenteeism
– Improved employee retention, thus reducing training costs
– Improved health and safety
– Increased job satisfaction and morale
Whether you are experiencing chronic pain, or other issues affecting your work, call Karp today to book an appointment with an experienced occupational therapist!