The tides of change are here. With the number of ailments caused by poor seated positions for hours on end sky-rocketing, companies and individuals are looking to make changes to how we work. Two potential contenders to the throne of the traditional seated desk are the standing and exercise desks, both of which are available from Flexispot.
If you’re looking to make a change and are considering one of these new ways of working, you probably have plenty of questions, not least, which is better and why. And while we won’t be able to give you a gold medal-winning desk of the future because everybody is different and looking for vastly differing things, we will explain the pros and cons about both new forms of desk that should give you all the information you need to make a reasoned decision.
Standing Desk
What is it and what are my options?
It’s probably no surprise to hear that a standing desk is a desk you stand at rather than sitting at - in that sense it does exactly what it says on the tin. There has been a huge increase in popularity with standing desks over the last few years, not necessarily because people suddenly like standing instead of sitting, but because of the countless issues that come with sitting all day long.
Humans were not built to sit in chairs for 8 hours a day, even if they are of the wonderful ergonomic variety. Flexispot has a wide variety of standing desks, either adjustable models that can be raised and lowered or standing desk converters that can be placed on a normal desk and also adjusted as needed.
What are the pros?
Standing desks come with numerous benefits, such as a reduction in chronic back and neck pain, potential reductions in blood sugar levels, while possibly also lowering your risk of heart disease. If you’re wondering why there are some ‘potentials’ and ‘possibles’ here, it’s simply that we don't have the long term scientific research on standing desks yet - but most doctors agree that these benefits are highly likely.
One benefit that has certainly been recorded, is the extra calories burned by standing. Studies have shown that by standing during the afternoon rather than sitting, the body will burn between 150 and 200 more calories - an excellent way to shed some unwanted pounds.
What are the cons?
The major con here is that we have become so accustomed to sitting down for hours that the mere thought of standing for the whole working day is enough to send a shiver down the spine of many. The first day will be unpleasant and the second won’t be much better, but over time it is something the human body can get used to.
One important point to consider is that you shouldn’t really be standing all day either. Experts suggest a 50-50 split between sitting and standing is probably the best way to go, which should give you the best of both worlds.
Exercise Desk
What is it and what are my options?
For some, the idea of even biking for exercise sounds unpleasant, so what on earth would they make of an exercise desk?
Exercise desks now stand at the very cutting-edge of office designs looking to keep our bodies in better shape. By combining a desk to work at with an exercise bike, you can in theory do your work while keeping fit and burning a whole heap of calories. Flexispot now offers the Cycle Desk Bike V9 Pro which comes with adjustable seating, an integrated display so you can keep track of how far you have ridden and 8 different resistor levels to really test your metal. And what’s more, it is whisper quiet meaning you won’t disturb those around you.
What are the pros?
It’s fair to say that exercise desks come with a host of benefits that make them an incredibly enticing proposition. These include burning calories while working, reducing stress levels, improved circulation, better muscles and joints and improved sleep at the end of the working day.
What are the cons?
There will no doubt be those who are sceptical about exercise desks but many of these doubts are most likely down to ingrained ways of working. If we want to be picky, exercise desks typically come with higher prices than standing desks and like any action that is repeated over a long period of time, there is always the risk of an injury. Another con would probably be the limited desk space that comes with many exercise desks. If you’re used to sprawling out across a large desk, you might find the small area a little constricting. You can remove the desk and use it in conjunction with another table, but because of its height, you would probably need something specific - though a typical adjustable desk would do fine.
I’m still torn - is there a magic option that combines both?
Well, it’s funny you should ask, because yes, there is. The Cycle Desk Bike V9 Pro can be used as both a standing desk (if you stand opposite the cycle seat) and an exercise bike. If you want to go a step further, remember that you don’t always have to cycle when seated, so technically the V9 Pro can also be a traditional seated desk.
Of course, it’s still not a perfect option, as we said it does have limited desk space, but if you’re looking to invest in a true multi-purpose desk that helps you to stay fit and active while at work, the V9 Pro is about as good as you’re going to get.
