Sit stand desks have been growing in popularity of recent, thanks in large part to research about how sitting for long periods of time can have negative effects on your overall health. We now know for a fact that a sedentary lifestyle can be damaging to our health and yet our modern day lifestyle causes many of us to spend excessive amounts of time sitting. With this in mind, I’ve created a list of 7 health benefits from standing during your work day to encourage you to the follow the lead of many people who are converting to the sit-stand desk.
What is a Sit Stand Desk?
A sit stand desk is a work station that allows you to stand up comfortably while working. Many different set ups are adjustable, so that you can change the height of the platform or the desk and alternate between a sitting and standing position.
The 7 Health Benefits of A Sit Stand Desk?
1. Standing Helps Prevent Weight Gain!
When compared to an afternoon of sitting at a desk, an equal amount of time standing can burn at least 170 more calories (1). That’s almost 1000 additional calories burnt every week simply by standing each afternoon. That means sitting for long periods of time could be stopping you from losing those extra kilograms gained over the summer holidays! And with the cold months coming …. standing might be just the answer to all those comforting winter meals!
2. Standing Desks Can Lower Blood Sugar Levels!
A recent study showed that standing for 180 minutes after eating lunch reduced the blood sugar spike by 43% compared to sitting for the same amount of time (1). Another study found that alternating between sitting and standing every 30 minutes throughout the workday reduced blood sugar spikes on average by 11.1% (2). This means that standing more often can help curb those energy crashes throughout the day caused by a drop in your blood glucose and ultimately prevent the onset of diabetes.
3. Standing May Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease!
A study found that traffic conductors who stood all day had half the risk of heart disease-related deaths compared to their co-workers driving the buses who sat all day (3). Heart disease is the number one cause of death and it is estimated that at least 90% of heart disease is preventable. So why wouldn’t you take a stand to stop it happening to you?
4. Standing Desks Increase Blood Flow to the Extremities!
Sitting at your desk all day can be comparable to sitting on a long flight. Sitting for long periods of time causes blood to pool in your lower limbs, which can cause a range of problems from swelling, blood clots, varicose veins and can contribute to cellulite formation.
5. Standing Desks Help Improve Your Mood, Energy Levels and Productivity!
Who doesn’t want to improve their energy and get more done throughout the day? In one 7-week study, participants using standing desks reported less stress and fatigue than those who remained seated the entire work day. Additionally, 87% of those using standing desks reported increased vigor and energy throughout the day (4). These findings align with other research, which links sedentary time with an increased risk of both depression and anxiety (5) (6). So throw out the caffeine and antidepressants and stand up!
6. Standing More May Help You Live Longer!
Studies have found a strong link between increased sitting time and early death. This is not surprising given the strong evidence behind sedentary time, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In fact, a review of 18 studies found those who sit the most are at a 49% greater risk of dying early than those who sit the least (7). Another study estimated that reducing sitting time to 3 hours per day would raise the average American’s life expectancy by 2 years (8).
7. Standing Desks Improve Posture and Reduces Back Pain!
Several studies have been done on employees with long-term back pain. Participants have reported up to a 32% improvement in lower back pain after several weeks of using standing desks (9). Another study published by the CDC found that use of a sit-stand desk reduced upper back and neck pain by 54% after just 4 weeks (10). This also means your chiropractic adjustments will be more effective and your body will improve at a faster rate. Stop popping those painkillers and get yourself standing!
In summary, reducing time sitting can improve physical, metabolic and even mental health. This is why sitting less and standing more is such an important lifestyle change.
So It’s Time to Stand Up!
If you have lead a lifestyle that has caused you to sit for long periods Chiropractic care can help undo the damage that may have been done to your spine. So book an appointment with one of our qualified Chiropractors to see what they can do to help you.
In my next blog post on the Sit Stand Desk series I will show you how and why sitting can affect your posture, contribute to herniated discs, lead to arthritis and cause muscle imbalances.
I hope you enjoy the read.
Lauren
References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24297826
Standing-based office work shows encouraging signs of attenuating post-prandial glycaemic excursion, Occup Environ Med.2014 Feb;71(2):109-11. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24637345
Alternating bouts of sitting and standing attenuate postprandial glucose responses, Med Sci Sports Exerc.2014 Nov;46(11):2053-61. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2027542/
Coronary Heart Disease and Physical Activity of Work, Br Med J. 1958 Dec 20; 2(5111): 1485–1496. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23057991
Reducing occupational sitting time and improving worker health: the Take-a-Stand Project, 2011, Prev Chronic Dis.2012;9:E154. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24121248
Prospective study of sedentary behavior, risk of depression, and cognitive impairment, Med Sci Sports Exerc.2014 Apr;46(4):718-23. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26088005
The association between sedentary behaviour and risk of anxiety: a systematic review, BMC Public Health.2015 Jun 19;15:513. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22890825
Sedentary time in adults and the association with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and death: systematic review and meta-analysis, 2012 Nov;55(11):2895-905. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22777603
Sedentary behaviour and life expectancy in the USA: a cause-deleted life table analysis, BMJ Open.2012 Jul 9;2(4). pii: e000828. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25168375
Breaking up workplace sitting time with intermittent standing bouts improves fatigue and musculoskeletal discomfort in overweight/obese office workers, Occup Environ Med.2014 Nov;71(11):765-71. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23057991
Reducing occupational sitting time and improving worker health: the Take-a-Stand Project, 2011, Prev Chronic Dis.2012;9:E154.
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