5 Reasons to Get an Ergonomic Standing Desk

On average, approximately 60% of U.S. adults do not engage in the recommended amount of physical activity and 25% are not active at all. Inactivity can worsen with sedentary jobs and when sitting for prolonged periods while working. Investing in office ergonomics and purchasing an ergonomic standing desk can help improve a worker’s health, reduce inactivity, and even improve energy and productivity while working.

How do you know the best type of standing desk for you or your employees? An ergonomics consultant can best pinpoint specific workspace needs to reduce health risks and pain at work with an ergonomics assessment. In this blog we will explore five reasons your next purchase should be an ergonomic standing desk, so keep reading for more information!

What Is an Ergonomic Standing Desk?

Have you considered buying a standing desk for yourself or your employees? Ultimately – a standing desk is an ergonomic workstation that lets you remain standing while working on your computer or other tasks.

There are a few different types of standing desks, such as fixed-height and sit-to-stand desks. However, it is important to have a balance of both sitting and standing while working, so an adjustable sit-to-stand desk may be your best option.

Related Blog Article: “Sitting vs Standing at Your Desk”

1. You Can Alternate Between Sitting and Standing

When employees hear of “standing” desks, they may think they’re going to be stuck standing all the time. However, a good ergonomic standing-desk will be adjustable and allow workers to sit and stand throughout the day. Furthermore, these standing desks are often motorized, making it simple to go from sitting to standing with a push of a button.

2. Standing Gets Your Body Moving

Sitting or lying down burns the least amount of calories, so simply adding standing during your workday can get your blood moving.

According to Healthline, “when you stand, you burn anywhere from 100 to 200 calories an hour. It all depends on your gender, age, height, and weight. Sitting, by comparison, only burns 60 to 130 calories an hour.” Healthline goes on to say, “when you’re on your feet, you activate your muscle mass. This muscle mass helps you burn more calories. Plus, when you stand, you’re moving your body more. All of those foot taps and stretches can add up over time.”

3. Help Avoid Cardiovascular Disease Risks

Research has proven that sitting for long periods and sedentary behavior increase your risk for cardiovascular disease.

The average adult sits between five to eight hours daily. In some instances, prolonged sitting can negate the positive benefits of exercise and activity. Instead, moving throughout the day or using a standing desk can help get your body moving and maybe even encourage you to move than you usually do on the workday.

Take your standing desk to the next level and incorporate a few minutes walking around the house or office for the best results.

4. Decrease Back Pain

Do you find your back pain increasing when working from home or after sitting all day at the office? The problem could lie in how you spend most of your day: sitting. Instead, a standing desk can help reduce strain on your low back and neck.

Even if you deal with chronic back pain, making the switch can have immediate effects.

5. Proper Ergonomics Improves Energy and Productivity While Working

Standing improves energy expenditure compared to sitting and sit-to-stand desks are likely to improve the ergonomics of your workstation. As a result of the comfort and less strain on the body, worker’s will be in a better mood, which leads to improved productivity.  In fact, according to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industry, “on average, an ergonomics assessment will pay for itself in about 8.4 months” due to more comfortable and happier workers. In fact, happiness alone “led to a 12% spike in productivity, while unhappy workers proved 10% less productive” according to the University of Warwick.

A sit-to-stand desk is a step in the right direction when designing an office with ergonomics in mind. Furthermore, investing in an ergonomics assessment to ensure maximum comfort and productivity for yourself or for your employees is also highly recommended.

Improving Your Ergonomic Workplace

We hope this blog gets you started on the path of setting up proper ergonomics for your workstation. If you or your employees need assistance improving your in-office or home-office ergonomics, consider contacting the Ergonomics Experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. for a consultation. We offer both in-person ergonomics assessments and virtual ergonomics assessment. Through our detailed assessment tools, you can find out exactly what you need to fix in the office for better health and productivity in the workspace.

An ergonomic standing desk is one way you can start improving your overall caloric expenditure and health. We can help you get started using a standing desk for the best outcomes.

Check out our website SolutionsNW.com for more details on how you can find the best office setup today!

At SolutionsNW.com we value the importance of a positive workplace culture. Part of a positive workplace is a safe workplace, Contact Us to schedule an ergonomics consultation or ergonomics assessment for your office today.

Subscribe to our ergonomics blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics evaluations available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, OR, Portland, OR, Salem, OR.

Virtual Ergonomics Assessment available nationwide!

Contact the Ergonomics Experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2018, there were over 272,000 days away from work caused by musculoskeletal disorders, otherwise known as ergonomic injuries. Workplace injuries like these cause pain, loss of worker productivity, and have a negative impact on their employers too.

But, there are ways to prevent them with proper workplace ergonomics. The question of “what is ergonomics” is often brought up in the interest of improving workplace safety and productivity. If you are looking for ways to make your workplace safer, ergonomics in the workplace is a good jumping-off point.

What Is Ergonomics in the Workplace?

A common question is “what is the meaning of ergonomics in the workplace?”  Ergonomics is a focus on improving the design of a workplace so that it better fits the user’s needs. This reduces discomfort for the worker while increasing productivity and efficiency.

Awkward postures, extreme temperatures, and repeated motions can put stress on your body. Workers may feel fatigue, discomfort, or pain from this stress. Either over time or immediately, this can lead to musculoskeletal disorders or MSDs. 

These MSDs affect a person’s muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, and nerves and can lead to potentially severe injuries for employees and workers’ compensation claims for employers.

By implementing ergonomics in the workplace, workers can be safer and have less of a chance of injury.

What Is the Goal of Ergonomics in the Workplace?

The goal of ergonomics is to improve a workplace, systems, and products so they better fit the workers using them. But, other goals can also be met. One of the biggest ones is that fewer employees will experience discomfort due to their work.

This can lead to increased morale. It also reduces absenteeism since workers are healthy and less likely to need time off due to injury.

If one is in a more comfortable position, one will develop less fatigue during the workday. This reduced discomfort can make workers more productive and efficient while increasing job satisfaction.  

Implementing ergonomic solutions can even help save money. Fewer injuries mean less downtime and more production. Plus, there will be fewer workers’ compensation claims, which can become very expensive.

How to Implement Ergonomics in the Workplace

Ergonomics can take many forms in the workplace. An easy and cost-effective way is to encourage movement throughout the day. If possible, have workers change tasks every so often. 

You can also adjust the workspace and implement ergonomically designed furniture and tools. For example, adjust computer screens so they are closer to eye level. You can also arrange your work area so frequently used items are within easier reach.

Invest in ergonomic furniture, like an ergonomic chair that encourages good posture and offers support while sitting. Adjustable heights with proper seat width and depth can put less pressure on the knees and legs. 

Furthermore, you may want to invest in ergonomic keyboards for desk workers. Items like keyboards are often overlooked, but can help prevent stress and pain in the wrists and hands.

Invest in an Ergonomics Assessment for your Workplace

If you are trying to design a comfortable and efficient workplace for yourself and your employees, you’ll most likely come upon the question of “what is ergonomics?” Hopefully now you have a better understanding of ergonomics as the perfect way to improve the health, comfort, and efficiency of workers.

That said, properly setting up an ergonomics workplace can be a daunting task. We always recommend contacting an ergonomics consultant to perform an ergonomics assessment. An ergonomics assessment will ensure that a workspace is properly setup for maximum productivity and improved safety.

Contact the ergonomics experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. for more information. You may also want to consider an affordable virtual ergonomics assessment, which can be done remotely (all you need is access to e-mail or a smart phone).

Looking for More Tips on How to Create an Ergonomic Workspace? Contact us at SolutionsNW.com, we will be happy to help you!

At SolutionsNW.com we value the importance of a positive workplace culture. Part of a positive workplace is a safe workplace, Contact Us to schedule an ergonomics consultation or ergonomics assessment for your office today.

Subscribe to our ergonomics blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics evaluations available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, OR, Portland, OR, Salem, OR.

Virtual Ergonomics Assessment available nationwide!

Contact the Ergonomics Experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

A sedentary lifestyle can do more than simply cause your body to weaken over time due to lack of movement. Sitting too much can actually increase your chance of serious health problems. This is a scary statistic considering how many office workers (and remote workers) are working at a desk for most, if not all, of their workday. 

How do you counteract this potential problem? Is standing at your desk during your entire workday better than sitting at your desk for eight or more hours? 

Naturally, many offices are taking the advice from ergonomic experts by investing in ergonomic workstations, but are they using these ergonomic workstations properly?

Continue reading to learn the answer to this question: Is it better to sit or stand at work?

Benefits of Standing at Work

Why stand for work? The answer is simple. We completely understand that standing can sometimes be inconvenient or painful if done too long, especially while you are sick or when you are sore. However, sitting at your desk for prolonged periods of time every single day can be bad for your health. 

When workers incorporate standing while working, they are likely to see an immediate improvement in mood and level of productivity.

Over time, getting work done while standing at an ergonomic workstation may even help reduce the risk of heart disease and other health problems. Standing can even help you to relieve neck and/or back pain that is associated with sitting for too long. 

Benefits of Sitting at Work

A sedentary lifestyle is bad for your health when you make a habit of sitting for several hours each day without getting up and moving around (or even standing!) for part of your shift.

However, as long as you aren’t sitting through the entire workday, it won’t hurt to sit down for a portion of your shift. You’ll want to take a ten- to twenty-minute break from standing for every hour that you are on your feet anyways.

It’s not just that sitting too long is a bad idea, but more that doing anything for too long can be negative for your body. For example, certain issues can stem from standing for too long.
Occupations that require constant standing for several hours have shown to cause pain and swelling in the feet along with certain vascular complications. Standing all day can also add unnecessary strain on your hips, ankles, and knees, which is why it is important to also sit while you work.

Conclusion: Is It Better to Sit or Stand at Work?

There is no right answer to this question: “is it better to sit or stand at work”? It’s all about balance.

By incorporating a routine that involves both sitting and standing while working, workers will be able to improve their health and productivity throughout the workday.

In fact, whether to sit or stand while working is just the tip of the iceberg in ergonomic office design. Our ergonomics experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. recommend investing in an ergonomics assessment to ensure every aspect of the office is designed to prevent injury and improve efficiency in the workplace.

Related article: “Why Every Business Needs an Ergonomics Assessment”

Stay Proactive to Prevent Workplace Injury and Improve Worker Productivity

We’ve discussed how sitting too much can cause health problems, but we also showed how standing for too many hours at a time is also not good for your overall well-being. In the end, it turns out balance is key and you should mix in both sitting and standing while working.

For an in-depth consultation and best practice recommendations, contact an ergonomics experts and perform a professional ergonomics assessment for best results. Solutions Northwest Inc. would be happy to help you figure out if your current workstation is the right setup for you or your employees. Contact the ergonomics experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. to find out how you can have a professional ergonomics assessment performed. And be sure to check out our new virtual ergonomics assessment, designed for remote workers (all they need is access to e-mail or a smart phone).

Have questions? Contact us at SolutionsNW.com, we will be happy to help you!

Subscribe to our ergonomics blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics evaluations available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, OR, Portland, OR, Salem, OR.

Virtual Ergonomics Assessment available nationwide!

Contact the Ergonomics Experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below: