Are Standing Desk Health Benefits Real? The Experts Say Yes!
In a recent conversation around the office, it came up that Stand Up Desk Store’s “birthday” was November 1, 2014. That means we’re more than six years old and still going strong!
Over those six years, many of us on the “SUDS” team have happily watched the standing desk mature from the “latest office trend” to an established, essential component of a modern workplace.
Of what do we attribute this success? Like many health and wellness-related trends, it was a matter of waiting for the science to catch up.
In other words, it’s the job of researchers and other experts to put the newest, hottest health and productivity products through their paces. Predictably, the effectiveness of most fad-products quickly comes into question, causing them to fade into history. (Anyone remember the Abdomenizer?)
On the other hand, the standing desk is among a select few products that - through accumulated research - consistently lives up to its list of claimed benefits. Add in thousands of success stories from real-world standing desk users, and we can confidently say the stand up desk is here to stay.
So, when consumers ask us, “are standing desks better for you than traditional desks?” we can answer with an emphatic “yes.”
We’ve outlined the advantages of standing desks on our health benefits page. Here, we offer:
- Statistics about “sitting disease”
- Insights on standing desk health benefits
- Links to dozens of articles and studies dating back several years.
Before deciding if a sit stand desk is right for you, we invite you to give this page a good look. In the meantime, here are some highlights of more recent articles that make a strong case for stand up desk benefits.
Benefits of Standing at Work
Plain and Simple – Standing Means You’re Not Sitting
The Cleveland Clinic writes that “The more you sit, the more you risk serious health issues.” Naturally, anything that gets you out of your chair is a good thing. In addition to exercise, walking breaks, and yoga poses, they recommend a standing desk.
“…invest in a standing desk (and) alternate between sitting and standing every hour. Movement is your best defense for a desk job!”
Standing is Good for Your Brain as well as Your Body
In Men’s Health, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta reveals that he actively avoids sitting.
“‘Every time I’m about to sit, I ask myself: Do I need to sit right now?’ Dr. Gupta says. ‘That may go further in terms of the benefit of movement on your brain than even going to the gym. I don’t have a chair in my office.’ If you can stand or walk during meetings, phone calls, and other activities, do it. Think of inactivity as the disease rather than working out as the cure, he says.”
Excessive Sitting Can Lead to Back and Neck Pain
Discussing health issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chicago Tribune writes that working from home can lead to back and neck issues severe enough to require physical therapy. This, they attribute to long hours spent sitting.
“Physical therapists say complaints of neck, shoulder, and upper back pain are more common as patients slump over their computers for hours at a time...One of the biggest lessons for people, physical therapists say, is to keep moving. Part of the problem is that people aren’t moving around as much as they normally would in an office.”
Standing Can Help Burn Extra Calories
Citing Florida State University Professor Michael Ormsbee, Ph.D., The Great Courses Daily writes that standing at a desk can raise your heart rate by up to 10 beats per minute, translating to an extra 50 calories per hour burned.
“It turns out that changing to a standing desk can reduce your risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and overall mortality risk.”
People Who Move Are Healthier and Live Longer
As this article published by Quartz illustrates, studies of the world’s “Blue Zones” indicate that the people who live longest are those who incorporate routine natural movement into their day. They say natural movement includes walking, gardening, minimizing mechanical conveniences…anything that isn’t sitting. Their advice for deskbound workers in today’s “knowledge economy?”
“Make it a point to stand at your desk…”
Ready to purchase your own standing workstation but don't know where to start? Contact our Inside Sales Department to discuss your ideas. They love pairing users with the perfect setup to fit their exact needs!
Simply email [email protected] or call (855) 843-7920.
