Living with Chronic Pain

The Benefits of Using a Sit-Stand Desk at the Office

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Sitting in an office chair all day can lead to health issues. For individuals with chronic pain, this can include increased pain. One way to prevent increased pain from sitting all day is to alternate sitting with standing.

Sit-stand desks allow office workers to easily transition from working while sitting to working while standing. The work surface of sit-stand desks can be raised or lowered with just the touch of a button.

Benefits of standing

Standing for part of the day provides numerous health benefits, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Less joint pain
    Since joints require movement to stay lubricated, sitting in one position all day can cause stiffness. Changing from a sitting position to a standing position (and moving around while standing) lubricates joints, which can reduce pain.
  • Less neck pain
    Repeatedly looking down at a keyboard or phone can lead to neck pain. Standing helps prevent “text neck.”
  • Less back pain
    A study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the use of a sit-stand desk decreased back pain by 54% after four weeks of use.
  • Improved energy levels
    The same study found that 87% of participants felt energized after seven weeks of using a standing desk.
  • Improved circulation
    Circulation improves when standing as opposed to sitting. Standing particularly improves circulation through the spine and musculoskeletal system.

The amount of time spent standing is a personal decision. A good starting point involves standing for just 30-60 minutes per day and slowly increasing the amount of standing time until a comfortable balance between sitting and standing is found

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