Standing desks are great for burning extra calories and working more movement into your day. But did you know that working while standing has benefits for your back? The CDC conducted a study that demonstrated a reduction in upper back and neck pain by 54% by those who reduced their time sitting by just 66 minutes per day.
Our bodies weren’t designed to spend all day sitting. You’ve probably heard about research that points to sitting too much being the cause of a variety of negative consequences on our health and well-being. One of those problems is back pain.
Even the best office chair won’t keep you at perfect posture all day—most of us tend to slump or slouch in one direction or another over time—resting your chin on one hand while you read, or even leaning forward, hunching over your keyboard. We spend a lot of hours sitting while working, and when our posture isn’t ideal, it can lead to back pain from straining your neck and other muscles. Poor posture can also lead to herniated discs and overall muscle weakness.
Of course, those are exaggerated examples. In reality, even small posture misalignments over time can lead to back pain from strained neck, to herniated discs, and muscle weakness. An excellent way to help improve your posture is by using a height adjustable workstation. When you can adjust the height of your desk, you can use it while sitting or standing. Changing your position from standing to sitting while you work can help you maintain better posture, which in turn can alleviate back pain.
Many people who use a height adjustable standing desk to switch between sitting and standing while they work have noted that switching positions helps them remember to periodically take quick breaks to move around a bit. Staying in one position for too long can also lead to back pain—especially if your posture isn’t always perfect.
When you work using an adjustable height computer workstation, you can spend part of your day sitting and part of your day standing. Alternating your position from standing to sitting during your workday can help you maintain better posture, which in turn can alleviate back pain. Additionally, the physical movement you’ll add to your day will help increase blood flow, which helps boost oxygen to your brain. That oxygen boost can improve your energy levels throughout the day, as well.
No matter whether you have back problems today, or whether you want to prevent future back pain, standing for at least part of your day can help improve your posture. Give it a try and see if it helps—your back may thank you.