How Can Using a Standing Desk Through Parts of the Day Improve Your Health?
It used to be that humans mostly worked outside, but clearly things have changed. Most people now spend the majority of their working lives sitting, and that can be damaging to your health. However, the solution is to use a standing desk. You can either buy a desk set at standing height, pick one that can be adjusted between sitting and standing height, or simply use a computer stand to elevate your device on your current desk.
Here are just three important reasons why that's going to be good for your health.
Reduced Risk of Back and Neck Pain
Back and neck pain can seemingly come out of nowhere, but it's often down to prolonged sitting. This is because most people tend to hunch over when they are working at a desk. This forces the spine into a C-shape instead of keeping it straight. The weight of the body will press down on points of the spine that we're designed to take that kind of stress over extended periods. Using a standing desk reduces that strain and forces you to adopt a more natural posture.
A number of scientific studies seem to have confirmed that standing is better for your back and neck than sitting. One found that simply switching from sitting to standing every 30 minutes reduced lower back discomfort while maintaining productivity. Another demonstrated a reduction of back and neck pain by 54% after standing instead of sitting for just 66 minutes each day.
Increased Calorie Burning
A calorie is a unit of energy; if you take in more calories than you use, you gain weight. Exercising is the best way to burn calories, but you can also increase the number you burn by standing instead of sitting for part of the working day. When you stand, muscles throughout your body need to keep you erect, so you'll be less likely to put on weight – you're also likely to feel fitter since your muscles will have been kept firm throughout more of each day.
Improved Circulation
Finally, standing through part of the day is going to improve circulation. When you sit down, parts of your body are put under pressure, reducing the amount of blood that can reach them. Additionally, your heartrate tends to slow down. Standing up will see blood pumped throughout the body more effectively. You'll stay fresher and be less likely to suffer from aches and pains.
For more information, visit a local chiropractor.