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Many people have switched to standing or walking desks to avoid the potential health risks of sitting all day. However, these desks may not be a perfect solution, for a number of reasons.
Even though those who sit for long hours tend to be less healthy, it doesn't necessarily mean that a standing or walking desk will enhance your health. Several experts expressed doubts in a Boston Globe article:
“Standing all day isn't the solution,” said Alan Hedge, a professor of design and ergonomics at Cornell University. “That was the thinking a century ago, which led to the creation of chairs to prevent issues like spinal curvature, back pain, and varicose veins.”
While standing might burn a few extra calories as our hearts pump more blood upward, it can also place added stress on our veins, backs, and joints, particularly for those who are overweight.
Researchers haven’t yet determined the exact health benefits of standing,” explained Dr. I-Min Lee, an associate epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, who has studied the risks of sedentary behavior. In population studies, scientists haven’t figured out if the health improvements from reducing sitting time come from being more active or simply from standing. Also, studies on whether exercise mitigates the health risks of sitting have yielded mixed results.
Another issue arises when considering the impact of walking while working—not on your body, but on your performance. A small study published in PLOS One showed that people using treadmill desks performed worse on tests measuring learning, attention, and typing. However, since the subjects weren’t familiar with working on a treadmill, these effects may be short-term.
When I tried a standing desk, I found it harder to concentrate. Then again, maybe I should have given it more than just ten minutes.
If you’ve experimented with a non-sitting desk, how was your experience? Was there a tough adjustment period, and how long did it take to adapt? Feel free to share how long you've been using the desk comfortably, or if you gave up, let us know why!
Photo by Kiran Jonnalagadda.
