Office Ergonomics - Standing and Sitting at the Office
Regarding office furniture, absolute measurements have long been considered the ultimate solution for correct posture. For example, an adjustable desk must be exactly x inches high, and the armpits and upper arms must be positioned at a 90-degree angle. We've seen countless illustrations of the "perfect ergonomic posture." However, is it realistic to expect office workers to stay in such a position for more than 8 hours a day? It's time to rethink these static standards and become more flexible, both in terms of furniture and our mindset.
What Does an Ergonomic Workspace Look Like?
If we look at how people actually work, we'll find that most people change their posture not just once but multiple times throughout the day. Regardless of whether these postures are ergonomic, they lean forward and backward, cross their legs, and even rest them on their desks. We almost instinctively try to provide our bodies with what they clearly need in daily office life: movement.
Fortunately, these observations have slowly but steadily led to a rethinking of the office environment. Far from static measurements, modern office furniture incorporates movement, exercise, and ergonomics. These modern solutions are still lacking in many office environments worldwide – with serious consequences.
For most of us, prolonged sitting is unhealthy, which shouldn't be groundbreaking news. Even if we sit in an ergonomic chair and maintain an ergonomic posture, the lack of movement quickly leads to muscle aches and back pain. A truly ergonomic (and therefore healthy) workplace must offer possibilities for movement.
Adjustable desks and office chairs form the foundation of an ergonomic workplace. Adjustable desks allow for sitting and standing while working and can be adjusted to any desired ergonomic height. Ergonomic office chairs typically help maintain a spine-protective posture while sitting and pair perfectly with adjustable desks.
Walking, sprinting, hunting, climbing, building, digging, swimming... The human body, as created by nature, is rich in movement. It's not in our nature to rest for several hours at a time – this is an undeniable fact.
Our bodies cannot sit for more than 30 minutes at a time. If we sit for several hours – especially with poor posture – our bodies react with pain, cramps, tension; it can even lead to herniated discs. The simple solution? Stand up. Sitting less prevents unnecessary consequences.
Adjustable Desks Reduce Back Pain
At this point, it's a disease of civilization: back pain is one of the most common consequences of prolonged sitting. The 2019 DAK health report (Germany) mentions back pain as the most common reason for company sick leave.
A large portion of this back pain is stress-induced and stress-related. Staying still for long periods – as in daily office life – puts an unnatural and unhealthy strain on our bodies. A study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that switching between sitting and standing can reduce pain by up to 54%.
The Cost of Back Pain
The economic cost of back pain is also significant. In Germany, chronic back pain costs approximately 12.2 billion euros annually. This doesn't even account for the diminished quality of life for those affected! This shows that severe back pain affects society for those who work in offices, when the solution is so simple and right before our eyes: adjustable office furniture would help to alleviate pain easily and quickly.
Adjustable Desks Reduce Neck Pain
When you sit, your spine is often rounded, similar to the letter "C." Over time, this posture can greatly affect the neck – even if you do your best to sit in an ergonomic position. When you sit for several hours, tension and pain are almost inevitable.
Overall, we firmly believe that adjustable desks are not a trend or hype. More and more evidence shows how ergonomics improves people's lives. Those who switch to an ergonomic office all say: it's simply a smarter way to work.
Those who no longer want to sit will experience a completely new sense of life and work. A study in the International Journal of Workplace Health accurately describes the effects of adjustable desks: reduced back and neck pain, increased energy, improved concentration, higher productivity, and an overall improvement in well-being and quality of life.
At this point, all we at Updesks can do is appeal to you: switch to an adjustable sit-stand desk with an ergonomic office chair. The benefits are undeniable and will convince you in both the short and long term. It's an investment in your health and well-being. A worthwhile investment.
