Sitting & Standing Desks in the workplace

Desk workers commonly come in asking for my opinion on standing desks and sit-to-stand desks in the workplace.

Are they effective?
Will this prevent my back or neck pain?
Should I be sitting more or standing more?

The answer I often give is that whether you’re sitting or standing, the body does not like remaining still. Remaining in one position for an extended period will eventually build up pressure and take its’ toll somewhere in the body – most commonly being the low back or the neck and shoulders. Some studies also suggest that prolonged standing can lead to arterial stiffness, so a stand-only desk is not always the ideal solution (Caldwell et al., 2018).

Movement is always the key to recovery – I always encourage my patients to get up and go for a walk or stretch rather than staying in a seated or standing position all day. Our bodies were designed to move, so make sure you’re giving your body what it wants.

There is some evidence that sit-to-stand desks reduce low back pain among workers (Agarwal et al., 2018) as they can be a good way to switch up your position throughout the day, but it’s important to be varying your position quite regularly – every 30 to 45 minutes is ideal.

There is no one size fits all – each person will have to figure out a routine that works for them. Seeking help from an osteopathic manual practitioner, occupational therapist or another healthcare professional may be a good first step in improving your pain. I see desk workers daily in practice, and I’ve seen what pain does to them. As an osteo, I’m extremely passionate about helping people get through their work day, improving their productivity in and out of the office and bettering their overall quality of life.

Take-to-work Tips:

Walk around in your downtime – leave the office for lunch, go for a walk around the block
Set reminders on your phone or computer – Every 30 to 45 minutes you’ll be reading ‘Walk! Stretch! Move!’
Encourage your colleagues to walk with you – a healthy office is a productive office
Ergonomics – Getting your ergonomic set-up evaluated and adjusted by a specialist can be a key in combating your pain
Seek help! I am always willing to help you overcome your pain!

Caldwell, A. R., Gallagher, K. M., Harris, B. T., Rosa-Caldwell, M. E., Payne, M., Daniels, B., & Ganio, M. S. (2018). Prolonged standing increases lower limb arterial stiffness. Eur J Appl Physiol, 118(10), 2249-2258. doi: 10.1007/s00421-018-3956-2

Agarwal, S., Steinmaus, C., & Harris-Adamson, C. (2018). Sit-stand workstations and impact on low back discomfort: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ergonomics, 61(4), 538-552. doi: 10.1080/00140139.2017.1402960