Standing desks are becoming very popular because they can help to relieve some of the health issues caused by sitting down. Research shows that sitting for long periods can lead to an increased risk of disease, issues with posture, and weight gain.
Switching to a standing desk can help with a lot of those issues, but are they really as great as people make out?
There are a lot of benefits to standing desks but there are also some downsides, and before you make the switch, you need to do your research so you have the full picture. These are some of the pros and cons of a standing desk.
Pros
Reduced Back Pain
One of the main reasons that people use standing desks is to relieve severe back pain.
Sitting for long periods has a big impact on your posture, especially if you don’t have a good quality office chair.
Remaining in a static position all day will also cause muscles to tighten, and you may experience back pain. But a standing desk helps to improve your posture and engage your core muscles, so the strain on your back is reduced and the pain goes away.
Reduced Chance of Chronic Health Issues
Sitting for long periods has been linked to an increased risk of health issues like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and strokes. Using a standing desk at work can help to combat some of the damage caused by sitting and reduce your chances of developing these health conditions later in life.
Weight Loss
Staying active is important if you want to manage your weight, so sitting all day long is not great for you. However, when you are standing, you burn a lot more calories so you should find it a little easier to maintain a healthy weight. This one change alone won’t solve your weight issues if you have a bad diet because the difference is small, but it can help.
Cons
Stiff Muscles
Sitting down for too long causes issues with the back of your muscles, but standing for too long can put pressure on different areas of the body. All of the weight is taken by your legs, which means that you may get stiff muscles. Often, switching to a standing desk doesn’t solve the issue of muscle pain, it just shifts it to a different part of the body.
Corns
Standing for prolonged periods can also lead to corns on the feet. These hard patches of skin can be very painful and make it difficult to move around. This article on how to cure corns on toes has some good information on how to manage the problem, but the best way to avoid it is to avoid standing in the same position for a long time. You should also make sure that your shoes fit well so they don’t rub.
Poor Posture
People use standing desks when they want to improve their posture but, in some cases, it has the opposite effect. Standing desks are optimized for desktop computers and when people use them with laptops, they tend to lean forward and hunch over. Standing desks can help to improve your posture, but only if you pay careful attention to your standing position.
There are quite a few downsides to standing desks and overall, the issue is with being in the same position all day long, regardless of whether you are sitting or standing. You may be better off with an adjustable desk so you can switch between sitting and standing.
