Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Improved Health With A Sit Stand Workstation

By Maria Wood


In the world of today, people - in general - are experiencing more health issues than just a few decades ago. A huge part of this is due to the fact that so much time is spent sitting and less time is devoted to moving around. A sit stand workstation is one way many offices are trying to improve the well being and morale of their employees.

Traditionally, offices provided employees with a standard desk with a set height, and a chair that was adjustable. Some also provide them with ergonomic tools like a foot rest, and lumbar and wrist supports, but they still remain seated for hours. It is the sedentary position that often leads to issues with one's bones, heart, and muscles.

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.

So with the average work day lasting about eight hours, it may seem that there is no viable solution. If one sits all day at their desk they run the risk of poor circulation and possible heart issues, but standing for those long periods are equally risky and could be detrimental to bone strength. There must be a happy medium that can help minimize the negatives that come with either of these extremes.

The answer to these problems is to do everything in moderation instead of insisting on one extreme or the other. The key is to combine sitting and standing so that circulation and musculoskeletal issues are not able to fully manifest. Adjustable desktops go from traditional height to a full upright position simply by pushing a button, pressing a lever, or turning a crank.

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.

One common misconception that many individuals have is that moving means doing vigorous exercise, which is absolutely not true. Movement could be anything as simple as stepping in place, walking to get a drink of water, or getting outside for a breath of fresh air. As long as the muscles are in action, the blood is encouraged to flow more freely, feeding the heart and body.

People spend so much of their lives sitting. Whether at work, at home watching television, or in the car driving, this position can have a very adverse effect on several different aspects of their health. The best way to minimize these risks to to make sure to not only remember the importance of not only standing every now and then, but also to get moving to work the circulation, muscles, and bones.




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