We’re always on the look-out for innovative products designed for everyday use and the popular sit-stand desks are not only advanced in their design but in their ability to actually elevate your health and productivity. You’re most likely aware by now that your desk job isn’t doing any favors for your health, in that sitting for extended periods of time, which you most likely do for a majority of the day, has been linked to serious health risks like heart failure, high blood pressure, obesity and in some cases premature death. While sit-stand desks may not be the end-all be-all to combating the severe consequences researchers believe to stem from a sedentary lifestyle (i.e. sitting all day long), they’re definitely a start and a product we believe worth standing up for (pun intended).
Below, we’ve outlined 5 major health benefits of sit-stand desks. Read on to discover how these desks on the rise can not only elevate your health but your productivity as well.
1. Lowers Risk of Obesity
When you sit for just 20 minutes, your caloric expenditure drops to just 1 calorie per minute. The fewer calories you burn, the higher your risk for obesity. Standing on the other hand burns three times as many calories as sitting. This makes sense if you think about it. Standing requires more work like tensing your leg muscles and engaging your back and shoulder muscles. In fact, a study published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that standing for at least one-quarter of the day could reduce a person’s risk for obesity by 32 percent.
2. Reduce Back Pain
One of the most common complaints from those who sit all day at work is back pain. Standing though can dramatically decrease chronic back pain caused by prolonged sitting. Not only does sitting at a desk all day put more pressure on your spine than standing but you’re also more likely to be hunched over your computer when sitting. Standing all day isn’t the answer though either. Alternating between sitting and standing is important and the optimum solution for reduced back pain as too much of either can end up having the adverse effect (i.e. back pain).
3. Improve Mood and Energy
Though you’re not exerting yourself physically, sitting all day at work can be tiring both mentally and emotionally. A number of people though who have used sit stand desks have reported feeling more energetic and alert when standing, even with the daily pressures and stresses that work brings. In fact, one study found that sit-stand desks lowered feelings of stress and fatigue, while improving mood and energy levels.
4. Improve Posture
Standing at your desk for a few hours a day can improve your posture similarly to how it can reduce back pain. As we mentioned earlier, when sitting at your desk, you’re more likely to slouch. With some sit stand desks though, like our Sequel Lift and Centro Lift desks from BDI, you can actually program the height of your desk so that it’s always at the right position – which by the way you can determine based off your computer. Your computer screen should sit just above resting eye level. This will cause you to have to look up slightly to see it, which can help to keep you from hunching over.
5. Increase Productivity
Sit-stand desks can not only elevate your health benefits but your performance as well. Research has shown that simply standing throughout the day boosts productivity in the workplace by 46%.
So, what do you think? Is a sit-stand desk right for you? Let us know in the comments below! And for those of you ready to take your health and productivity to the next level, check out our selection of modern sit-stand desks here!