Tuesday 12 June 2018

The Many Health Benefits Of A Sit Stand Workstation

By Maria Wood


It seems that in modern times, people as a whole are experiencing significantly more health issues than in previous decades. This is largely due to spending a greater amount of time sitting, with less focus on moving around. A lot of offices are switching to a sit stand workstation format to help improve employee well being and morale.

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.

On the average, a person is at work for around eight hours a day, so it may seem that finding a solution is impossible. If they stay seated at a desk for this whole time, they run the risk of possible heart conditions and poor circulation, but standing those hours is working to lower bone and muscle strength. There needs to be a balance which helps decrease the negative impact of both extremes.

The solution to these two extremes is to do both in moderation. This means finding an acceptable combination of standing and sitting in order to keep issues with one's circulatory or musculoskeletal systems from beginning. With a simple turn of a crank, push of a button, or press of a lever, an individual and take their work surface from the seated height to standing in a matter of seconds.

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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