Whilst many of us are aware of the postural risks of sitting all day, we often are left wondering what we can do to help.
Sure enough, we naturally find a comfortable position to sit in at our desks.
Over time this can lead to issues with poor posture.
One way to rectify this could be a DSE Assessment, desk-based exercise, stretching, or finding time to stand.
Studies show that standing for 15-20 minutes per hour can have massive health benefits, including calorie consumption, decreased lower back pain, and reduced joint strain amongst others.
Below are our top reasons for finding time to stand.
Reduce lower back pain
Humans are not designed for sitting for prolonged periods. It introduces the shortening of the hamstring, which in turn affects our glutes and lower back. As we sit, our pelvis can become tilted back, which can bring our spine forward, causing lower back pain. This can also worsen pre-existing back conditions. Standing allows us to lengthen the hamstring and reduce the pressure, relieving some of the pain felt from prolonged sitting.
Calorie consumption
Sitting at your desk burns around 60-120 calories per hour. That is less than the calorie level of a large apple, brownie, or small portion of mixed berries. Suddenly that quick snack requires work to burn off. Standing for an hour burns around double, up to two hundred calories an hour at a desk. The slight increase, over a week or month soon adds up to a simple and effortless health benefit.
Reducing wrist pain
As we sit at our desks, our wrists can often rest on our keyboards and desk, causing wrist strain. Other effects include tension in the hands and worsening carpel tunnel for those affected. Standing often helps alleviate this as we should be holding our arms bent at around 90-100%, stopping the resting of the wrists and alleviating the pain!
Mental benefits
Studies in the UK and USA have shown up to a 50% improvement in productivity during standing desk trials. Conducted in educational settings and within the NHS, standing an average of 20 minutes per hour had a massive impact on productivity in the workplace. Other benefits signalled by those involved include improved focus, heightened mood, and improvements in office communication.