Friday, May 25, 2018

Improved Health With 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.

The traditional office set up consists of a desk set at a static height with an adjustable chair. Although a lot of companies provide ergonomic tools such as lumbar and wrist supports, and foot rests, this still leaves the employee's body in a sitting position for hours on end. This sedentary positioning can lead to a lot of problems with one's muscles, bones, and heart.

Then there are offices that take things to the polar extreme with having only standing desk as a means to beat the sedentary situation. They try to ease the situation by providing employees with cushioned mats, stools, and even treadmills, as ergonomic support. The problem is that standing for extended hours can also take its toll on a body by straining the lower back, knees, and hips.

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.

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.

The most widely accepted formula is that for every 20-30 minutes one spends sitting for whatever reason, they should be in a standing position for at least ten minutes to give their body a posture break. However, simply standing up is not enough. It is extremely important that a minimum of two of those minutes be spent moving in order to give a little encouragement to the circulatory system and get the blood flowing.

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.

A huge part of a person's life is spent in the seated position. Whether they are at home and watching television, driving or riding in the car, or at work, time in this position can adversely affect many areas of their health. The risks can be minimized by making a point to change to a standing position periodically and to add movement to improve circulation and exercise bones and muscles.




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