It has been proven that sitting at a desk all day has significant health risks. Research shows these risks include obesity, increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and unhealthy cholesterol levels. In addition, these, in turn, can increase the risk of bringing on chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancers.
However, there are different approaches to try and reduce these risks. For example, can we avoid daily back aches and shoulder hunching, which inevitably lead to lousy posture. Standing desks or ergonomic desks are two of the alternatives. But what are each type’s pros and cons, and which is better?
Table of Contents
Standing desk
A standing desk is exactly that, a desk you stand at instead of sitting. You can either be standing completely or sitting on a high stool.
Pros
Burns calories
You can burn 100-200 calories per hour at a standing desk. Compared to 60-130 while sitting, if you are at your desk for eight hours a day, you will burn between 800-1600 calories daily.
Positive mind-set
Standing will help keep your mind in a state of “wellness”. Because you move around more, your mind will benefit from this and feel more positive due to the endorphins released.
More energy and incentive to exercise
Fifty-three studies showed that a standing desk encouraged workers to become more active. Workers found a 66% increase in productivity and 87% increase in energy. This increase was from just one hour a day standing.
Improve posture
By regularly standing, the correct posture will become natural. In addition, it removes any compression on your spine, leading to chronic back, shoulder and neck discomfort.
Reduces back pain
Reducing the pressure on your back will help stop back pain.
Cons
Extra Pressure
Standing for an extended period can put excessive pressure on your knees, hips and feet. Resulting in leg and foot pain.
It Can encourage bad posture
Just as much as sitting, it can also result in bad posture if you ignore how you are standing.
No increase in productivity
It has been reported that standing desks don’t have an impact on productivity.
Standing desks can tighten joints
If standing for long periods, the user can experience tightening of joints—mainly knees and ankles.
What is an ergonomic desk?
An ergonomic desk is designed to prevent the user from getting injured and avoid working at uncomfortable angles. This helps to prevent common injuries such as repetitive strain injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, upper limb discomfort, elbow pain, and neck and back pain.
Pros
Support posture
It provides high support for the person’s posture. It is improving their natural stance.
Increase mental health
Having good posture helps to improve your mood, reduce stress and make the person more focused on the task.
Alleviates pain
It helps to eliminate muscle and joint pain, which alleviates distraction and helps concentration.
Productivity
It helps increase productivity by reducing distractions.
Cons
No flexibility
It is impossible to stand.
Doesn’t cater for different body types
They cannot be adjusted or customised to your height or body weight.
Because they cannot be customised, this may cause the user common health complaints from sitting for long periods.
Same position
Staying in one position for long periods will cause injuries.
Conclusion
While ergonomic desks are designed to help reduce typical desk-related health issues, they do not reduce health-related risks, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and the risk of certain types of cancers. A standing desk helps the mind and body. The only real issue that could cause problems for people to work full time at a standing desk is standing for long periods; however, the possible use of a high stool would allow the user to have breaks and elevate any pressure caused. This is where a high ergonomic office chair would come in efficiently as it would help support the user’s posture. The most significant benefit of using a standing desk is the positive benefits to people’s mental health. If someone has no pain, then their productivity will undoubtedly increase. Again, if someone is moving about, it will automatically impact their mind and positivity because of the endorphins being released. In practical terms, the mental and physical health benefits of a standing desk alongside a high stool will significantly and noticeably reduce the user’s sick days. The better the user’s well-being, the better outcome all around.