Thursday, May 31, 2018

A Sit Stand Workstation Provides Multiple Health Benefits

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.

In a standard office setting, employees are given a desk that is fixed at a standard height and a chair which they can adjust. They might also be provided with ergonomic tools such as foot rests, and supports for the lumbar and wrists. Even with those additions, the person is still seated for many hours, which can lead to heart, muscle, and bone issues.

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.

Since an average work day is approximately eight hours, it might seem impossible to find a solution. Sitting at a desk all day runs the risk of decreased circulation and the potential for heart issues, and standing all those hours is equally risky to muscle and bone strength. There is a happy medium available that can significantly lower the risks that each of these extremes pose.

The solution to these two extremes is to do both in moderation. This means finding an acceptable combination of standing and sitting in order to keep issues with one's circulatory or musculoskeletal systems from beginning. With a simple turn of a crank, push of a button, or press of a lever, an individual and take their work surface from the seated height to standing in a matter of seconds.

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.

Many people have the common misconception that they are not really moving if they are not exercising vigorously. In all honesty, even minimal actions like going outside for a breath of fresh air, stepping in place, and just walking to get a drink of water, constitute movement. The body and heart will receive ample blood flow through circulation as long as the muscles are being worked.

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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