Are Standing Desks Ergonomic?

Ergonomic Desks: Do I Need One?

For anyone who uses a desk for work, especially on a frequent basis, an ergonomic desk is a worthwhile investment to make working as comfortable as possible, which results in not only happy workers/employees but also a better quality of work. Desk users should consider upgrading to an ergonomic desk if they:

• Feel sore or experience muscle aches throughout the day: If you’ve noticed your lower back aching at the end of a work day, you’re definitely not alone. Doctors report that many people experience posture-related problems from sitting like cervical lordosis, which can lead to bulging discs and a range of other musculoskeletal pains. Too much time in a fixed posture – whether sitting or standing – is often the culprit. Can a standing desk help here? Yes, but only if you have the option to sit and stand at will.
• Feel sluggish or unfocused while working: That sluggish feeling that comes on during the work day often results from staying in one position for a prolonged time. This type of lethargy can negatively impact the quality of a worker’s life in addition to the work they produce. If you tend to become distracted, a standing desk may provide just the occasional movement you need. A height adjustable desk can help you return your focus to the task at hand – provided that desk adjusts position at the same pace you do.
• Feel unengaged or unhappy while working: Remaining in one position throughout the workday can lead to feelings of unhappiness. According to one study, workers who sat for long stretches reported feeling more depressed and anxious than colleagues who sat less.

What Does Ergonomic Mean?

When a product is ergonomic, it means that it is designed for an efficient workflow and comfortable work environment. Ergonomic office furniture is generally designed to support good posture, and is almost always adjustable to fit a range of body sizes. By choosing ergonomic office furniture and looking at ways to reduce unnatural work positions, nearly anyone can create a more ergonomic office.

To be ergonomic, office furniture should do the following:

• Allow the user to work in a comfortable, neutral position for the activity they perform
• Provide adjustability to fit individual bodies and abilities
• Help alleviate fatigue and/or feelings of restlessness
• Encourage movement and flexibility, suiting the current needs of the user

Are Standing Desks Ergonomic?

In general, standing desks are designed to contribute to an ergonomic work experience, and height adjustable standing desks deliver the flexibility required to support ergonomic posture. As a result of using an ergonomic desk, you can gain more natural energy, improve your posture, experience less muscle pain and other related symptoms, and enjoy your overall work experience more.

Because of the promise of an improved ergonomic office, more companies are continuing to provide standing desks for employees. In face, from 2013–2017, there was a 31% growth in employers offering standing desks to employees.

Proper Height for Standing Desk

A standing desk can only be ergonomic if it is adjusted to the proper standing desk height for the person using the desk. Adjusting the desk, keyboard, and monitor for an ergonomic posture – both sitting and standing – helps to alleviate back, neck, and wrist pain.

When standing, you should adjust the desk so your head, shoulders, and hips are in alignment, and your elbows form 90-degree angle. Your computer screen should be centered slightly below eye level. When seated, your head, shoulders, and hips should be in alignment, and your thighs should be at a 90-degree angle to your spine.

Ergonomic Desk Chair

For a complete ergonomic workstation setup, the most important element apart from a desk is a height adjustable chair that provides maximum flexibility. A great chair contributes to proper sitting posture by allowing proper alignment of your shoulders, spine, and hips. A lumbar adjustment and height adjustment are essential for any chair used with an office desk so you can maintain comfortable, natural posture and improve back pain.

The Standing Desk offers ergonomic desk chairs for standing desk users to use while seated. Types of standing desk chairs include:

• Backless stools that require you to engage your core muscles, including the Sthul, a height adjustable model designed to encourage movement while standing.
• Task chairs for lumbar support, including sitting task chairs like the Sella, and sit/stand task chairs like the Alta Sella.

Standing Desk Ergonomics

The primary factor that makes a standing desk ergonomic is its ability to raise and lower to suit the desired position of the user, leading to maximum comfortability depending on the situation.

Is Standing Good for You?

Standing throughout the day is better than only sitting, but standing all day could also have a negative physical impact on the body. The best solution for most people is to alternate between sitting and standing.

Adjustable Height Desks from The Standing Desk

The Standing Desk offers both pneumatic and electric standing desk models that suit the needs of desk workers of all sizes and body types.

Pneumatic Desks

Pneumatic desks are height adjustable standing desks that use the power of compressed air to lift and lower the desk. Moving the desk surface requires a light push while pulling on the adjustment handle. Because they have no cords or electrical components, they are also well suited for repositioning around the office on casters. Pneumatic desks are among the quickest to adjust, so they make it easy to flow from one task to the next.

The Standing Desk offers three models of ergonomic pneumatic desks:

The Kloud, a weight adjustable pneumatic desk designed for heavy loads up to 150 lbs.

The Luften, a twin column pneumatic desk that works well for larger monitors, with a 60” wide surface.

The Andern, a single column pneumatic desk ideal for laptops or single monitor users, with a 40” or 48” wide surface.

Electric Desks

Electric desks are height adjustable desks with powerful electric motors that lift and lower the desk surface. They move up or down with the touch of a button. These desks are designed to lift heavier loads. The Standing Desk offers two electric desk models operated by brushless electric motors, which offer quieter operation than brushed motors.

The Oben desk, available with a 48” or 60” wide surface, can lift up to 250 lbs.

The Andern electric is a single-column electric desk ideal for smaller spaces, with a 40” or 48” wide surface.

Create an Ergonomic Workstation

An ergonomic workstation contributes to comfort, wellbeing, and productivity. A height adjustable desk is the key element to greater adjustability and flexibility. Start standing more, and moving more, with a height adjustable standing desk.