As you sit there, know this; sitting for long periods of time leads to an early death. And if that doesn’t happen, you can bet your bottom dollar that diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer will start to make you miserable. We’re not saying that; the research is. But that doesn’t at all mean that a comfy chair with its contouring curves is evil; straight-backed chairs are just as harmful. However, the thing is, chairs have been around since the time of the Ancient Egyptians (probably why King Tut kicked the bucket at such an early age, but don’t quote us on that one.
Jokes aside, whether it’s the seat at the uni, your living room sofa, the park bench, or your office cubicle, sitting for prolonged periods of time can do a number on your health. Period. Besides, sitting for long periods of time can put extra stress on the spine, resulting in that chronic back pain that many of us (80% of Americans) are all too familiar with.
So, the question here is, “Does a standing desk improve posture?”
The short answer is, YES. (But you’re not here for the short answer, are you?).
The standing desk craze arrived way back in 2011, but it was not until recently that their popularity has reached new heights. Part of that is because there are always those who love to jump on the latest bandwagon and fashion fad just to look cool (or to prove they read too many magazines), and mainly because we’ve just gotten so tired of having to sit (whether we’re working or not), no thanks to the COVID19 pandemic. For most of us, the latter reason strikes true for the huge popularity of standing desks.
For many folks, hovering above the rest of your colleagues (or other family members) while you work can seem strange, but the verdict’s in – standing desks to work when it comes to improving posture and can also help reduce the chances of back pain, along with many other medical issues that are the direct result of sitting on your behind for too long.
If you are already using a standing desk, congratulations. You’re ahead of the curve and are probably into fitness. Since research has linked sitting down for too long with a cluster of medical conditions from obesity to diabetes and high cholesterol levels, it’s best you keep standing anyway. However, there’s a caveat to using standing desks as well. Like all other things in life, even too much of a good thing can be bad for you, and the same goes for the things that are used incorrectly.
Since a standing desk is used for just that – standing while you work, many people don’t think much of it. You purchase a standing desk; move your laptop, notepad (coffee mug), and other work essentials from the kitchen and voila! You’re done. But, it turns out, it’s not that simple.
While standing desks are a godsend for those who have been forced to spend long hours either working at home or at the office, there are certain factors that you need to consider to reap the rewards of a standing desk. Right at the top of the list is getting the height of the standing desk right.
Getting the Height Right
To reap the benefits of a standing desk, you have to first make sure you’ve got the right desk height. As a rule of thumb, the ideal height for a standing desk that almost everybody can use is elbow height. While this has become the standard when it comes to the height of a standing desk, there are exceptions.
Also, when you stand upright, make sure that your chest is up and your shoulders are straight and back, just like you would stand at attention during PT. Also, your forearms should always rest flat on the surface of the desk, aka, parallel to the floor and the desk. These are just some of the tips that you need to keep in mind to ensure that the ergonomics of the standing desk work for you and not the other way around.
To make sure you get the height of your standing desk right, to start, set the standing desk at around elbow height. This basically means that your elbows need to be at a 90-degree position from the ground. For example, for a person of average height (5’11”), the standing desk needs to be at a height of 44 inches.
If you’re one of the lucky ones who is using the Seiffen Laminated Standing Desk, then getting the height perfect for your standing desk should be a breeze. For best results, keep the sitting-standing ratio 1:1 or 1:2, as in, if you spend one hour sitting, then you need to spend one hour standing.
Keyboard Ergonomics
Once you have found the perfect height for your standing desk, it’s time to turn your attention to other components as well. Since you will probably be spending much of your time on your computer, it pays to get the keyboard set up right. You can properly set up the keyboard by first placing the keyboard and the mouse in close proximity to each other on the standing desk and make sure that they are at the same distance from you. It is crucial to ensure that you are able to reach all of the keys of the keyboard comfortably while your elbows are at a 90-degree angle.
Once you start typing, your wrists need to be kept straight. This can be achieved by simply adjusting the keyboard tray according to your posture.
The Monitor
It goes without saying that an ergonomic work setup would not be complete without setting up all features of the workstation, that includes the monitor’s height as well. Whether you are using a PC or a laptop, it is important to make sure that the height of the monitor is not too low or high, which would cause you to tilt your head, which will result in more stress on your neck, back muscles, and shoulders. You also want to make sure that the screen is not too far or close, which could make it difficult to work comfortably, and will put a lot of stress on your eyesight, which could result in blurry vision and headaches.
When it comes to the height of the screen, always make sure that you do not have to tilt your head while working. Or let your eyes line up with the top two to three inches of the computer screen. Additionally, the distance between you and the computer screen should be no less than that of your middle finger and the elbow.
Ending Note
There’s a reason why more and more professionals are turning towards the standing desk, and more specifically, the Electric Standing Desk E1. This new-age standing desk has come a long way from the clunky models of the past. This standing desk boasts of a whisper-quiet operation, even though it is fully automatic. This makes it the best choice for those who are looking for a standing desk for their home office or office workstation. The desk can be adjusted without making a sound, ensuring that nobody around you gets disturbed as you change from a sitting to a standing position or vice versa.
This standing desk also comes with 70kg lifting capacity, which ensures that many items can be placed on the desk without having to bother of the desk losing its lifting capacity or breaking. The lifting desk also features new and improved stability, which makes sure the desk stays in place regardless of its height. The built-in, sit-stand reminder offers a gentle nudge whenever you’ve been sitting (or standing) for too long on the standing desk. The height range of this desk goes all the way up to 121cm, making it the ideal choice for anybody who wishes to use a standing desk, regardless of their height.
As if all that wasn’t enough, you also get plenty of options when it comes to colors. This ergonomic standing desk is available in up to three different colors, which makes it easy to find the perfect color to fit your current home décor or office space. But, what really sets this electric height adjustable desk from the rest is its ease of use, which makes switching between heights a breeze.
The standing desk comes in two models – you get the basic keypad which features the standard two-button functions of up and down, and the advanced all-in-one keypad, which pretty much gives you complete control over the standing desk and comes complete with programmable presets and the ability to save your favorite heights for sitting, standing or using an under-desk cycling machine. There’s also an LED display that allows you to know what height the desk is on and get preset activity alerts. It is without a doubt that the Electric Standing Desk E1 puts the question of, “Does a standing desk improve posture?” to rest – and it does it in style.
