Jun 4, 2018

Improved Health With A Sit Stand Workstation

By Maria Wood


Compared to the last few decades, people seem to have a higher amount of health issues to deal with. This is contributed largely in part to a greater time being spent in the seated position rather than standing or moving. To help boost the health and well-being of their employees, many offices are switching to providing them with a sit stand workstation.

In a standard office setting, employees are given a desk that is fixed at a standard height and a chair which they can adjust. They might also be provided with ergonomic tools such as foot rests, and supports for the lumbar and wrists. Even with those additions, the person is still seated for many hours, which can lead to heart, muscle, and bone issues.

Some offices have even gone to the extreme opposite by installing standing desks in order to negate the sedentary issue. They add ergonomic support by providing items such as personal treadmills, cushioned mats, or stools, as a means to take pressure off of the back and legs. Standing for such long hours can also have drawbacks in the shape of strain on the hips, lower back, and knees.

Since an average work day is approximately eight hours, it might seem impossible to find a solution. Sitting at a desk all day runs the risk of decreased circulation and the potential for heart issues, and standing all those hours is equally risky to muscle and bone strength. There is a happy medium available that can significantly lower the risks that each of these extremes pose.

Moderation is the answer to solving the problems that these two extremes pose to people who need to spend hours at a desk. The main key is a combination of sitting and standing which does not allow musculoskeletal or circulatory issues to formulate. With an adjustable desktop, one can take their computer from the traditional height, all the way into a full up right position just by pressing a lever, turning a crank, or pushing a button.

Through various studies, it has been found that the best results come by adding a minimum of 10 minutes of standing for every 20 to 30 minutes that one spends sitting. But, it should be noted that standing alone is not effective enough. It is incredibly important that at least 2 minutes in each 10 be devoted to moving around in order to encourage the best circulation throughout one's body.

Many people have the common misconception that they are not really moving if they are not exercising vigorously. In all honesty, even minimal actions like going outside for a breath of fresh air, stepping in place, and just walking to get a drink of water, constitute movement. The body and heart will receive ample blood flow through circulation as long as the muscles are being worked.

So much at one's life is spent sitting. Whether it is time spent in the riding in transportation, watching television at home, or being at work, the sedentary position can adversely affect one's health in many different ways. The key to minimizing the risks is to institute a combination of sitting, standing, and moving to improve posture, bone and muscle strength, and circulation.




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