As health and wellness become more important in offices around the world, standing desks are taking over for the many health benefits that they can have for those using them. Working at a sit-to-stand desk rather than a traditional desk and chair can reduce pain and stiffness, boost energy, and even help workers lose weight. And, the benefits for organisations are also huge, with offices that made the switch to standing desks reporting better productivity and teamwork. So, will standing desks ever replace chairs? Here are some reasons why they’re becoming more and more popular.

Sitting is really bad for your health

There’s a good reason why sitting is often referred to as the new smoking; sitting down for hours is simply terrible for your body. And, office workers who sit for at least eight hours a day have to deal with a 15% increase in their risk of premature death – if you’re sitting for 11 hours, that number jumps up to 40%!

Sitting at a desk means that you’re inactive, even if you type fast. And according to the BBC, inactivity leads to 3.5 million deaths every year; a statistic of which you probably don’t want to become a part. Sitting is also linked to an increased risk of several diseases including breast and colon cancer and diabetes. You’re also at a greater risk of developing kidney disease, heart disease and high blood pressure if you’re spending most of your day sitting down.

Standing promotes better health

While sitting is not doing very well when it comes to what’s good for your health and prolonging your life, standing is the complete opposite. In fact, standing is clinically proven to improve your health, reduce your risk of disease and premature death and helps to increase physical activity. Indeed, time spent standing up has even been proven to be better at reducing some of the risks associated with sitting compared to doing an hour of exercise. Improve your health and prolong your life starting today with these height adjustable standing desks from friskadesk.com. FRISKA is a Scandinavian style furniture brand with a range of modern, sleek desks to choose from perfect for the workplace or home office. They make functional products with your health and well-being a priority.

Sitting can be painful

If you’ve worked sitting at a desk for any length of time, then you’ll know that after a while, it can get really painful. When you’re sitting down, there’s up to 90% more pressure applied to your lower back compared to standing, and sitting for extended periods of time can lead to disk damage and reduced flexibility in your spine. And if your desk, keyboard and monitor height aren’t optimal for good posture and you’re using a regular chair rather than an ergonomic one, you might be craning your neck and hunching your shoulders too, which can lead to pain and headaches from muscle overextension.

Standing reduces back pain

Back pain is a common complaint in offices; a big cause of it is sitting down all day. But on the other hand, standing periodically throughout the day can dramatically reduce any back pain that you experience. And, some research conducted on standing desks found that users also suffered from fewer headaches. However, while switching to an adjustable sit-stand desk is a great way to reduce some of the pain caused by sitting down for hours, if you work at a desk, it’s important to make sure that your desk, monitor and keyboard height are right for you. It’s also worth investing in an anti-fatigue mat, and alternate frequently between sitting and standing so you don’t end up with new aches and pains from standing up using a computer for too long.

Sitting can lead to weight gain

Sitting is definitely not good for your waistline. In fact, obese people tend to sit for around two and a half hours more per day than people who are at an ideal weight. After sitting for just one hour, the production of Lipoprotein Lipase, a fat-burning enzyme, can decrease by as much as 90%. On the other hand, alternating between sitting and standing throughout the day can help you lose weight. When you go from sitting to standing, your heart actually beats ten times more per minute; if you stand for three hours per day, five days a week, you’ll burn around an extra 8lbs per year – that’s more than half a stone!

Healthy employees tend to be happy and more productive employees and so far, all the research around sitting is not looking good for your health and well-being. Along with the physical health benefits, using a standing desk can also engage your muscles to pump fresh blood to your brain, improving your mood and boosting creativity.

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