Anyone who has spent a notable amount of their day standing while working at the office or home would understand the discomfort it causes. While standing is preferred over prolonged sitting in terms of posture and overall health, most individuals are not looking for items to make the standing experience more comfortable
An increasing number of businesses and people who spend long hours standing at home now prefer anti-fatigue mats as they are a complementary accessory that enhances safety and comfort as you stand.
But do anti-fatigue mats work? Why should you use one? What are the pros and cons of using an anti-fatigue mat? Should you invest in an anti-fatigue mat? We look at all these questions in this post, but before we delve deep into the answers, let's start by looking at what anti-fatigue mats are.
What Is an Anti-Fatigue Mat?
An anti-fatigue mat is a cushioned mat that aims at alleviating the discomfort that your legs and body experience due to prolonged standing on hard surfaces.
While standing is healthier than prolonged sitting, standing for long hours can lead to discomfort and pain in the limbs. Moreover, prolonged standing can affect your muscles, reduce the blood flow in your legs, and lead to stress in other parts of your body, including the neck, back, and shoulders.
When fatigue and discomfort turn into pain, it can have a negative impact on your productivity. Anti-fatigue mats can help you deal with all these problems.
You can place anti-fatigue mats right beneath your desk or any other area of your home where you intend to stand for long hours. The cushioned surface of the anti-fatigue mat makes it easier for you to stand comfortably for a longer time compared to standing on hard, flat surfaces.
If you use anti-fatigue mats beneath your desk, you can easily transition from sitting to standing and continue to stand with ease and comfort. Moreover, several jobs and activities at home require standing for prolonged hours.
In that case, anti-fatigue mats can make your standing experience more comfortable and prevent painful conditions such as soreness and exhaustion of your legs. Furthermore, anti-fatigue mats also play an integral role in reducing the risk of musculoskeletal problems and other health concerns such as locked joints and varicose veins that can result from prolonged standing.
In all, anti-fatigue mats are ergonomic accessories that can make your standing experience more productive, safe, and comfortable.
How Do Anti-Fatigue Mats Work?
Now that you know what anti-fatigue mats are let's look at how do they work.
Anti-fatigue mats provide cushioned surface, so your feet are at ease. When you place your feet on the cushioned surface, your feet adapt to the mat's soft surface, which encourages and allows for muscle contraction and expansion we experience as we walk. Standing on a smoother surface also allows for muscle expansion and contraction, enabling the venous pump on the limb to work appropriately and pump blood back to the heart, which reduces stress and fatigue in the lower body.
When standing on an anti-fatigue mat, your body is better equipped to absorb shock, which reduces spinal cord compression and improves blood circulation and posture.
Pros and Cons of Anti-Fatigue Mats?
With an understanding of anti-fatigue mats and how they work, let's look at some of the pros and cons of anti-fatigue mats. With an insight into the pros and cons, you can make an informed choice about whether to invest in anti-fatigue or not.
The Pros of Anti-Fatigue Mats
Reduced Fatigue and Improved Comfort
The most obvious benefit of using anti-fatigue mats is reduced fatigue and improved comfort. According to research, individuals who rely on anti-fatigue mats have reported a 50% reduction in fatigue. Moreover, since the use of anti-fatigue mats makes prolonged standing more comfortable, employees who regularly use anti-fatigue mats have a lower risk of experiencing joint and muscle pain, blood circulation problems, varicose veins, and other health complications associated with prolonged standing.
Alleviate Burning and itchy Sensation in Feet
When you are required to stand for prolonged hours, it can affect the blood circulation in your lower body. As a result, you are more likely to experience muscle and joint pain in the lower body, along with blisters and bumps in your feet and heel spurs. Moreover, prolonged standing can also stress out the nerves that connect your spinal cord to the lower body, leading to numbness and burning and an itchy sensation in your feet and leg.
Fortunately, using an anti-fatigue mat can help alleviate burning and itchy sensations in the foot and legs. Moreover, if you are suffering from bumps and blisters or heel spurs, you can expect these conditions to heal faster when you stand at anti-fatigue mats as they improve blood circulation in your lower body.
Improved Overall Productivity
It is natural that when you feel comfortable (regardless of your position), it positively impacts your overall productivity. If your job requires you to stand for a prolonged period and if you do not experience any discomfort or pain in that position, you will be better able to concentrate and work enthusiastically, which will positively impact your overall productivity.
Fewer Absences from Work
Employee absenteeism is one of the most commonly experienced problems in the workplace. Moreover, the problem persists as many employees are now working from home.
Poor health is one of the most common causes of employee absenteeism, and the use of the anti-fatigue mats is known to have dramatically reduced employee absenteeism. When employees feel better and are more productive at work, it reduces their willingness to skip workdays. Moreover, according to research, the use of anti-fatigue mats at the workplace positively impacted employee attendance and had a favorable influence on the overall efficiency of the staff.
Another reason why anti-fatigue mats contribute to fewer absences from work is that they can significantly reduce the likelihood of accidents. Anti-fatigue mats have a rough surface that's anti-skid, which keeps them from slipping under your feet. Hence, anti-fatigue mats can reduce your risk of slipping or falling while working in your kitchen or at your standing desk.
Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance
While some anti-fatigue mats may not always be easy to clean and maintain, if you get your anti-fatigue mat from a reliable supplier such as Flexispot, you will find the mats relatively easy to clean maintain.
Low-Cost Investment that Saves Money
Anti-fatigue mats make a low-cost investment that offers huge returns in terms of better employee health, lesser absenteeism, and reduced overall health care costs.
Moreover, anti-fatigue mats are more durable than other alternatives such as rubber mats, making them a viable investment for your conventional or home office.
The Cons of Anti-Fatigue Mats
Doesn’t Respond to Movement
Unlike memory foam, an integral aspect of cushions and mattresses, anti-fatigue mats do not have this feature. These mats may function appropriately as long as you are standing still; however, as soon as you move from your original position, the mat will return to its original shape.
Moreover, the mats are more likely to wear out sooner if you use them persistently.
Anti-Fatigue Mat May Fail to Provide the Benefit You Are Looking For
Different individuals have varying preferences for the surface on which they stand. Some people prefer harder anti-fatigue mats, while others go for excessively soft mats. The problem with this choice is that a too-hard mat can aggravate posture issues. Whereas an excessively soft mat forces your muscles to work harder, leading to more stress and discomfort.
Should You Invest in an Anti-Fatigue Mat?
As we move towards the end of this post, following an understanding of anti-fatigue mats and their pros and cons, the last critical question is whether you should get one for yourself.
Prolonged standing can lead to backache, leg pain, and other health concerns, and an anti-fatigue mat offers solutions to all these problems.
However, anti-fatigue mats may wear out soon, so it's best to get one for yourself from a reliable, ergonomic product provider, such as Flexispot. The anti-fatigue mats that you get from Flexispot is an ergonomically designed accessory that you can conveniently use at your office or in your home, where you are expected to stand for long hours.
The anti-skid, anti-fatigue mats by Flexispot are easy to clean and keep slipping to a minimum regardless of the surface you are standing on. Moreover, they are a pocket-friendly solution that allows you to enjoy all the benefits of an anti-fatigue mat without breaking your bank.
So what are you waiting for?
If your job or home-related chores require you to stand for long hours, invest in the anti-fatigue mats today and enjoy better health and productivity.
