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The average full-time adult worker sits for about 10.5 hours per day, including the drives to and from work, according to a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Construction workers, movers and others who work on their feet all day may feel envious of their sedentary counterparts. But once the science is considered, the physical laborers will appreciate their jobs more.
The Annals of Internal Medicine published a study entitled “Patterns of Sedentary Behavior and Mortality in U.S. Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A National Cohort Study” in 2017. The primary finding was that consistent, prolonged sitting among the 8,000 adult participants, increased the risk of early mortality. Researchers said that the reasons for this are "unclear and complex," but reduced insulin sensitivity and less calorie burn were among some of the theories.
Workplace wellness is an important issue that top talent considers when choosing their employer. Scientists have suggested that people should get up and walk around for five minutes for every 30 consecutive minutes they sit down. But this is simply not possible in most office settings. A few adjustments to your office furniture can mitigate any potential negative effects of prolonged sitting.
The open office layout, along with more people working remotely, have fundamentally changed the way offices are furnished. Many successful firms allow workers to carry their laptops from one work station to another so they never feel locked into one place all day. Standing desks have become a fixture in these offices.
The primary benefits of standing desks revolve around the circulatory system. The heart and blood vessels work harder as they are fighting against gravity when you stand. This also means you're burning more calories than you otherwise would sitting down. Standing burns an average of 0.15 more calories per minute than sitting, according to a study in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology.
Adding a few standing desks to your office will motivate workers to get up and move, and perhaps even strengthen camaraderie among workers.
Some people are natural fidgeters and burn a lot of calories just sitting around all day. But others need extra motivation to keep their blood flowing during the course of a long eight-plus hour day.
Mini pedal exercisers can be placed right underneath your desk. This allows you to discretely pedal away all day at a pace slow enough that does not work up a sweat or get you tired; yet its fast enough to keep your blood flowing strong. The cheapest ones cost around $40 and come with calorie counters to show how much you've burned. They are also adjustable so you can increase or decrease the tension as necessary.
Every single desk doesn't need a pedal exercisers. But designate a few sitting desks (perhaps next to the standing desks) for workers to use throughout the day.
When all else fails, the best thing you can do to prevent negative effects of sitting is to put your feet up. This can be accomplished simply by placing some sort of crate or small box under your desk. But the key is to make your legs parallel to the ground for maximum circulation. Always use some sort of pillow or cushion so circulation is not cut off from your feet and you don't hurt your skin by resting on a hard surface all day.
We have a wide selection of standing desks. Drop us an email or call 408-437-1700. One of our representatives is waiting to answer your questions.
