The Incredible Health Benefits of a Standing Work Desk

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than 3.7 million Australians suffer from back problems.

Back-related injuries in the workplace can be caused by a variety of different conditions. These can include extended periods of sitting or lifting weight incorrectly, among others.

But a standing desk can help your employees maintain a healthier lifestyle in the office, besides helping them save their backs.

Read on to learn the incredible health benefits of a standing work desk!

Lower Risk of Obesity

A standing computer desk can help your employee to lower his or her risk of obesity.

According to the Australia Institute of Health and Welfare, almost two out of three Australians are overweight or obese. One of the leading causes of obesity is living a sedentary lifestyle.

But by adding a standing desk to an employee's office, the mere act of standing up to work helps your employee to burn more calories than if they sat down at their desk.

Reduce Back Pain

An adjustable computer desk that allows you to stand up can reduce an employee's back pain.

That's because when an employee sits for a prolonged period, they are at risk of compressing the discs in their back. This can result in an increase in back pain and a tightening of the muscles in their glutes.

But when an employee stands up at their desk, this reduces the pressure on their spine. It also allows them to straighten their back as they are standing.

This reduced back pain can result in fewer workdays lost to injury.

Improve Mood

Sitting at a desk each day can be a monotonous part of working in an office.

But by installing standing desks in your office, this can help improve the mood and morale of your employees.

But how do these desks do it?

A one week study in the United States by the National Center for Biotechnology Information shows us how! Researchers found that 87 percent of employees using standing desks reported increased vigor and more energy.

In turn, this improved employee morale and helped to put a smile on their face.

Increase Cardiovascular Health

An adjustable stand-up desk can help an employee improve their cardiovascular health.

One way these desks do it is by helping to improve blood flow as a result of forcing an employee to stand up straight. Standing allows blood to move more freely to their extremities.

Improved cardiovascular health helps you to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. These may not be the some of the first benefits you think of when considering a standing desk!

Reduce Risk of Neck Strain

A standing desk helps you to reduce the risk of neck strain for your employees.

When you are sitting down at your desk, you are at an increased risk of straining your neck as you look at a computer or other materials. That's because you will crane your neck to look down at what is on your desk.

Standing up straight at your desk helps you maintain the natural S shape that your body needs. This allows you to maintain a more comfortable position for your neck and reduce the potential for a strain.

Increase Flexibility

Standing up while you work helps you to increase your flexibility.

When you sit down for extended periods, you are at risk of losing your flexibility. For example, your hips begin to tighten and you will lose your range of motion as you restrict your body during the day.

But when you stand up, your body is able to stretch out naturally. This helps to improve range of motion and improve your flexibility.

Improve Breathing

A standing desk helps you improve breathing because you are standing up straight.

By improving your breathing, you are able to take deeper breaths and deliver more oxygen to your brain. This helps you to think more clearly and will improve your ability to function in the office.

Reduce Swelling

Sitting down for an extended period of time can cause swelling in your lower extremities.

For example, on a long flight, you may notice that your ankles and/or feet begin to swell. There can be many different underlying causes for this.

However, one of the most common reasons swelling occurs is because blood begins to pool in your leg veins due to long periods of inactivity. When you are standing up at your desk, you can avoid swelling because of the improved blood flow.

Increase Alertness

Have you ever fallen asleep in your chair in the office? Maybe.

But when is the last time you fell asleep standing up? Never.

Accidentally dozing off at work can be caused by many different things, including a lack of sleep or a heavy lunch, among others.

But one way to increase alertness is to stand up! Why? Because the mere act of standing up will force you to be more alert and aware of what you are doing.

Reduce Varicose Veins

A standing desk can help reduce the likelihood that you develop varicose veins in your legs.

Varicose veins are enlarged veins that often appear on someone's legs and feet. These veins are often a benign condition but can be rather unsightly.

One way you can reduce your chances of developing these veins is to alternate between sitting and standing while you are at work.

Wrapping Up: Using a Standing Work Desk

A standing work desk can be helpful to employee health and productivity.

But to make the most of these standing desks, you need to ensure you find the right ones to fit the unique needs of your employees.

At Sit Back & Relax, we are a company based in Sydney, Australia, specializing in the design of ergonomic work tools.

Our company believes that your business and its employees should WorkHappy(R). To achieve that goal, we work closely with your business to identify how to help you work safer and more efficiently.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can improve the quality of your workday!