Office Epidemics: Sitting Disease

Yep. There is a thing called "sitting disease." Yep, it is a true medical issue. And yes, it has become a real office epidemic. But try not to fret too much. Sitting disease is something that's easily preventable through healthy life and working practices. In today's article, we explore the causes of, and best ways to prevent, this terrible-sounding new ailment that seems to be sweeping the nation. Don't miss out on the cure!

So What is 'Sitting Disease'?

It's really very simple actually. "Sitting disease," as it's now being referred to by medical professionals, actually refers to poor metabolic syndrome and the overall results of an excessively sedentary lifestyle. According to an article published by Mayo Clinic, 50-70 percent of people in America spend more than 6 hours per day sitting down. And when you add it all up - the hours of working at office desks, watching TV, waiting, driving in a car, and sitting down to dinner - the numbers seem pretty realistic. Unfortunately, another study by the American Cancer Society found that inactive men who just sat around for more than 6 hours 48% more likely to suffer premature death. And women got 94%.

Yikes.

So Lets Stand Up!

"Stand up against sitting disease" definitely sounds like a good motto, and it's one that medical professionals all over the country are encouraging patients to do. Believe it or not, the human body was designed much better for standing than sitting. This is partly because people who stand more tend to have stronger leg and abdominal muscles that are more adept at taking some of the body's weight off the spine and distributing it evenly, and healthily, throughout the body. When people sit down, the legs can't help support the weight of the torso anymore. In the office, people who slouch or strain forward to see a computer screen force the collapse of their abdominal muscles, so all the weight of the torso and head are left up to the poor, bent spine. Poor circulation is also a side-effect of any modern task chairs that lack ergonomic comfort. 

Naturally, the first solution is to stand up, and take a stance against sitting!

Standing At Work

For all you seated office professionals out there worried about being the cubicle meerkat, don't fret. You're not the only one. We understand that transitioning from a seated working style to a standing one is no easy task. Not only do you have to get clearance from the boss, but you also have to buy (or make) all new office equipment to help you facilitate a healthier lifestyle. However, here are a few office hacks to make the change painless!

1. Get a doctor's note. Boss can't say anything if it's a medical necessity, right?

2. Shop affordable ergonomic desks for sale from reliable dealers.

3. Invest in a cushioned foot mat, support socks, and comfortable shoes to help make the transition from a 'seated lifestyle' to a 'standing lifestyle' a bit easier on the body.

4. Try DIYing your own adjustable standing desk if you want to save money. There are tons of great tutorials online already!

The Benefits

The benefits of standing in the workplace are... outstanding! Research shows that when someone shows true initiative by training their body to prepare for a standing lifestyle, overall health improves and so do one's chances of a successful transition. Those who take the time to exercise their legs and abdomen actually prepare their bodies for when those muscles will have to work extra hard. In fact, one reason aspiring standers fail to acclimate to a standing work style is simply because they fail to realize that standing for a full workday is a workout. You have to prepare your body ahead of time to sustain that level of 'endurance standing'. 

However, those who do stand at work often report greater focus and energy. Smithsonian magazine also attributes reduced risk of obesity, reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic issues, and reduced risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and reduced mortality rates to chronic standers. And all that extra physical training tends to produce much fitter, healthier bodies - always good for swimsuit season!

Sound Too Good to be True?

Well, it is. Unfortunately, all the hype about standing at work has also overturned a dark side to the task - namely, too much of it is bad for you. All those health-nuts who say "sitting is the new smoking" probably haven't tried to stand for a full workday without respite, which coincidentally, is exactly what many wannabe standers did before discovering too much of a good thing. In truth, all the health benefits attributed to standing, like reduced risk of disease, and physical fitness, are very real. But at the same time, standing continuously without breaks can wear out the legs. Standing has been known to lead to cardiovascular conditions like spider-veins, since the blood flowing down into your legs now has to strain against gravity to flow back up. As a result, many standing workers are left tired, sore, and frustrated. 

The Healthiest Solution

The best way to combat the dark sides of both standing and sitting is with a compromise. A mostly stand-up lifestyle is the best option, but don't forget to throw a few seated breaks in there. Investing in height adjustable workstations is a great way to facilitate both lifestyles. At the touch of a button, users can bring their whole desktop up for a standing session, or back down again for a seated (and still productive) break. With the ability to go from 'sit' to 'stand,' users can train their bodies to stand for longer periods of time by slowly increasing the duration of a standing session. Experts advise to supplement standing sessions with appropriate equipment, including gel mats, comfortable shoes, and compression socks. But don't forget to keep a few healthful ergo chairs around for when you truly need to take a load off your feet!

Is A Standing Office Desk Right For You?

People are starting to hear more and more about the benefits of standing office desks. Everywhere, former sitters are making the switch in the name of health, but while it's true that there are plenty of benefits to being a little more active, is a standing desk really right for you? How can you know? Well, don't fret. This handy-dandy guide will help you decide!

Pros:

1.) Health Benefits

Health is perhaps one of the biggest reasons employees and business owners are making the switch to standing desks. It's no secret that activity has been largely phased out of the modern world; the results can be seen in the hips and thighs of citizens all over the nation. However, studies have shown that those who stand lose quite a bit more weight than sitters. Anatomy experts and doctors all tend to agree that the human body was better designed for standing activities such as walking or running. In fact, some scientists have even likened sitting at conventional corner desks for office use to smoking! The idea is that standing reduces stress on the spine, alleviating back pain, and promoting weight loss, which in turn, diminishes many of the problems associated with weight gain. Lower risk of diabetes, cancer, and inactive metabolism can all be done away with, in theory, by standing at the office!

2.) Convenience

Another big plus for standing office desks comes from convenience. With traditional cubicles and executive desks, and even efficient modular workstations for office use, users aren't often guaranteed the choice to stand if they want to. One of the biggest benefits of height adjustable standing desks like the 6048-L3 Ergonomic Concepts Adjustable Workstation is that users have the option of sitting or standing. If they ever need to do both, their desk is capable of accommodating them. This versatility is especially valued in most workplaces, and as they say, better safe than sorry.

3.) Energy

Even if the full range of health benefits has not been definitively proven by scientific study in the realm of standing desks, one thing that all users seem to agree on is that they feel more energized. It only makes sense after all. The human body is more active standing than sitting. More is getting done. The metabolism burns faster, and there isn't the constant urge to relax, or maybe even take a nap, as there is with comfortable office chairs for tasking applications.  When users are forced to stand, they feel more awake, more focused, more active, more happy. Often, work is done faster and more efficiently when standing, even if it is work on a computer. Almost every owner of a standing office desk (who actually stands while working) attests to this fact. Forget the coffee! You won't need it with standing desks.

Cons:

1.) Health Dangers

It's true that there are plenty of health benefits to standing. When the body is upright, it is stretched out, whereas in a chair, all the stress of support is put on the spine, causing tremendous back and muscle pain for those that don't have good chairs. However, even if the spine is alleviated of stress when standing, gravity still has its effects. When the human body stands, all the weight is efficiently distributed until it comes down to two points - the feet. Of course, we are designed to support ourselves this way, but there is only so much pressure our legs and feet can take. One of the biggest problems reported by those with standing office desks is leg and foot pain. Blood circulation going down isn't an issue, but going back up, it definitely meets some resistance. Too much standing can cause hyperextention in the legs, hurting the nerves and tendons if breaks aren't taken in long standing sessions.

2.) Potential Inconvenience

For those that are used to sitting or that need to sit for their job, standing can be an inconvenience. The transition from sitter to stander isn't that hard, but it takes some getting used to. Those considering the switch may find standing for several hours a tiring and even painful experience. The pain and achiness is a natural transition caused by your legs strengthening, but it can also be a hinderance to work, mood and focus at the office until your body gets used to the new way of working. Additionally, for those that rely a sitting position to complete work tasks, for example, some artists, mechanics, engineers, standing can also be an issue. While there are plenty of studies that prove the health benefits of standing, there are no studies yet that definitively prove the benefits of standing office desks. We expect there will be some out soon, but until then, sticking with affordable ergonomic leather chairs is never a bad idea.

3.) Alternatives

For those skeptical about standing office desks, there are plenty of alternatives. If your workplace doesn't allow standing desks, keeping oneself healthy isn't impossible, it just takes a bit of extra work. With revolutionary inventions like the CHAKRA-GREEN-WHITE Chakra Ergonomic Chair by Eurotech, and other revolutionary ergonomic chairs, users can stay healthy by "deskercising." Office chair yoga and exercise have become all the rage lately for improving office health. Users that eat right and take short breaks to stretch and stay active have greatly improved health even without the added benefits of a standing desk. All it takes is focus.

Overall: 

In the end, there are plenty of benefits that standing desks can solve. Staying upright promotes tremendous health, but it can also hinder it by forcing all the body's weight on the feet. However, even this can be solved with leg braces and foot pads, and it can even be fully eliminated with periodic sitting breaks. Perhaps the best solution to the idea of a standing office desk is balance. Users that fully consider their work style, while also accommodating for the body's need to sit place themselves in the best position to gain from a standing desk. The body works best when standing, but it also needs to take breaks once in a while to keep from overexertion. Conclusively, standing at the office is great, as long as modern ergonomic chairs are available for the moments when users need them.