Is A Standing Desk Worth The Effort?

Should you have a standing desk?

At our chiropractic office, we see so many people with neck and back pain that is caused from them sitting at a desk for numerous hours at work. Many researchers are showing if you sit for 8 hours a day for most of your career, you are actually going to cut off the amount of years from your life just as you would if you smoked a pack a day for 20 years. Isn’t that alarming?

Your body starts to shut down and age much faster when you sit too much and have little movement throughout the day. Movement is the key to life. The musculoskeletal system (bones, joints, muscles, etc.) works on a "use it or lose it" basis. If you don’t walk around or stretch every 20-30 minutes, your muscles tense up, your joints stiffen, and you lose good posture which affects your spine.

The brain functions optimally when your body gets movement. It lifts your mood due to dopamine being released. Sitting all day can lead to drowsiness whereas standing and moving around creates energy and increases focus. It can also lower sugar cravings and help with weight loss.  A dopamine deficiency has been shown to increase risks of diseases such as Parkinson’s.

Don’t suffer! You must demand a change in your work space as soon as possible. It is usually a simple process to receive a standing desk from your employer with a doctor’s note.