Even though a standing desk might help with back pain, it probably won’t fix everything. For example, a standing desk might help you stand up straighter and relieve pressure on your neck and lower back, but it won’t help with more serious problems like scoliosis or a bulging disc.
Studies have shown that standing desks are good for the health of the average office worker in a number of ways, including reducing back pain. Participants in the study who used standing desks said their lower back and neck pain went down by 32% after a few weeks of using them. Sit-stand workstations were used in this study, which meant that people could still choose to sit. This is important because standing for long periods of time can hurt your spine just as much as sitting. Orthopedic spine specialists, like the ones at Barrington Orthopedic Specialists, say that you should use a sit-stand desk to give yourself two options.
Another reason to stand at work is to avoid back injuries and spinal compression, which can happen when you sit all day long. Ask a cashier at a grocery store what the bad things are about standing all day. This is true for any exercise that lasts a long time. I’ve gotten more done because I can stand or sit at my desk, and I couldn’t work at a computer if I couldn’t stand. Even though some people might think of standing desks as a “diet craze,” they are very helpful for those of us who have back problems or other issues that regular exercise can’t fix.
A good place to start is with a standing desk. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh came to the conclusion in 2019 after looking at data from 53 different, peer-reviewed studies that using a standing desk can help workers with lower-back pain. Dr. Elizabeth Garland, a professor at New York’s Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, and her colleagues have already published the results of a one-year study of users at standing and standard workstations. People who used standing desks said they had less back pain, more energy, and were more active outside of work.
Even the most devoted supporters have to spend most of the day sitting. Because sitting puts a lot more stress on your lower back than standing does, it’s important to have a comfortable chair at your standing desk to avoid lower back, upper back, or neck problems. You don’t want the bad things about sitting to cancel out the good things about standing.
Can you hurt your back by standing at a desk?
A study from the University of Waterloo found that almost half of the people who use standing desks are likely to get lower back pain.
Is it bad to stand at a desk all day and do work?
Even though there are new studies, many ergonomic experts still say that people who use a standing desk should stand for 5 to 15 minutes every hour. One study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that it is best to move around, stand up, and take breaks from sitting for at least two hours during an eight-hour workday.
Do chiropractors think standing desks are a good idea?
Chiropractors and other doctors tell people to buy and use standing desks at work (and at your home office). This makes it less likely that you will have neck or back pain or other discomfort from sitting. Standing workstations can also help people with problems with blood flow.
How can I make sure that my standing desk doesn’t make my back hurt?
Stand with your head tilted back and your back in the shape of a “S.” Your wrists and elbows should be at a 90-degree angle and flat on the desk. Lessen the amount of stress on your feet. Since most of your weight is on your feet, being on your feet all day will strain more than just your back.
How often should you use a desk that lets you stand up?
That means you should stand for an hour for every one to two hours you sit at your office. Every 30 to 60 minutes, switch between sitting and standing.
Standing or sitting, which is worse for your back?
One of the most common signs of DDD is pain that gets worse when you sit for a long time. This is because sitting puts a lot more stress on your low back than standing does.
Is standing for 8 hours bad for your health?
Also, studies have shown that standing for a long time may increase the risk of heart disease. This is because standing for long periods of time can lead to blood pooling in the legs, higher vein pressure, and oxidative stress, all of which can make the risk higher.
Is it exercise to stand for eight hours?
Standing at work is not a form of exercise like jogging or cycling, and there is no evidence that it improves heart health.
How long do you have before you have to get up?
It’s best not to stand for more than 8 minutes or sit for more than 20 minutes at a time. If people need or want to spend a lot of time sitting at work, they should slowly start standing more.
Why would you want to use a standing desk?
what’s good about using a standing desk Standing desk supporters point to studies that show that a person’s blood sugar levels return to normal more quickly after a meal on days when they spend more time standing. Also, standing instead of sitting might make back and shoulder pain less common.
Does it really matter if a standing desk is good for your back or not?
Participants in the study who used standing desks said their lower back and neck pain went down by 32% after a few weeks of using them.
Is working at a standing desk better than sitting at one?
Besides spending less time sitting, there are other reasons to stand at work: Calorie burn has increased. One study found that standing instead of sitting burns 88 calories per hour. Walking instead of running burns 210 more calories per hour.