Saturday, 26 May 2018

The Many Health Benefits Of A Sit Stand Workstation

By Maria Wood


Compared to the last few decades, people seem to have a higher amount of health issues to deal with. This is contributed largely in part to a greater time being spent in the seated position rather than standing or moving. To help boost the health and well-being of their employees, many offices are switching to providing them with a sit stand workstation.

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.

Many places have gone to the opposite extreme by providing standing desks to try and combat the sedentary issue. To add a little ergonomic support, they may also provide stools, treadmills, or cushioned mats, as well as a means to alleviate some of the pressure. Being on one's feet for long hours also has it's drawbacks in the form of placing strain on one's knees, hips, and lower back.

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.

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.

Many studies have been conducted and the experts agree that the combination of at least 10 minutes of standing for each 20 to 30 minutes sitting can provide an effective posture break for the body. One needs to be aware, however, but it is not enough to simply be standing. Movement should dominate at least 2 of the 10 minutes so that circulation is boosted enough to benefit all the muscles and organs.

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.

So much at one's life is spent sitting. Whether it is time spent in the riding in transportation, watching television at home, or being at work, the sedentary position can adversely affect one's health in many different ways. The key to minimizing the risks is to institute a combination of sitting, standing, and moving to improve posture, bone and muscle strength, and circulation.




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