Back pain is just the beginning
If you sit in front of a monitor for hours every day, chances are you’re feeling the pain. Prolonged static postures inhibit blood circulation and lead to inflammation of joints and organs. Symptoms can include chronic back pain, repetitive stress injury, fatigue, digestive problems, varicose veins and so many other things that might seem unrelated. In fact, recent studies have connected “inactivity physiology” to degenerative diseases such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and even premature aging.
But if you take a walk at lunchtime or hit the gym after work, that fixes everything, right? While isolated periods of exercise may be great for your overall health and wellbeing, they don’t get to the heart of the matter. In fact, depending on your exercise routine, you may actually be aggravating things.
Sitting puts about 50 percent more pressure on your lower back than standing. But people who stand all day often have joint and back pain as well. What to do?
Move it!
“Moving is life,” says Dr. Alton Ching, OMT, DPT, founder of Advance Physical Therapy in Redwood City, CA. His practice focuses on empowering people to free them of pain. “People often get stuck in their pain, thinking ‘this is the way it is.’” He helps his clients change that attitude and, where need be, change poor lifestyle choices. He explores the cause of pain, which is often related to the workplace. Inevitably, he says, movement is the key.
Traditionally, people have been advised to get up from their chair—albeit an ergonomic chair—and move every 20 minutes. But not everybody has the time or the discipline to put work aside and jog around the office.
An adjustable desk?
Known as the “sit-stand desk,” this relatively new ergonomic technology allows users to sit or stand at the push of a button. “Alternating between sitting and standing prevents musculoskeletal discomfort,” says Nick Moshiri, founder of ErgoDirect, where he focuses on helping people determine the best ergonomic solutions for their specific situations. While his clients’ health and safety are foremost in Moshiri’s mind, productivity is key as well. “The ability to change positions throughout the day not only helps prevent injury and disease,” he says, “it has proven to increase both productivity and motivation of workers.”
The sit-stand desk frees workers from their chairs and, once on their feet, they find themselves stretching while in front of their monitors, walking while on the phone, and generally moving around. Even jiggling helps keep the circulation going. So stand up for health… and move!
Please call us to find out more about our wide selection of adjustable desks.
