A Desk Without the Chair
Standing desks have been the talk of the town (or, the office) for the past five years. Most offices these days have at least one supporter of the “standing desk” movement. And since the boom of remote work, standing desks have become even more popular—at home and at work.
The general idea is that standing desks serve to counteract the negative health effects of sitting in a hunched position all day. A lot of people swear by them, although the hype has waned a bit recently (in no small part due to counter-claims that standing desks cause knee problems). But what’s the real story? Here, we look at the pros and cons of standing desks and see whether or not they’re worth the investment.
The Standing Desk Origin Story
Standing desks are nothing new. Thomas Jefferson, Ernest Hemingway, and Charles Darwin used standing desks to improve posture and focus. These days, there have been many studies that show that prolonged sitting even increases mortality rates. Therefore, stand up. Right?
Unfortunately, the answer is hazy. First, we must understand why sitting for long periods is so bad. Prolonged sitting can be a detriment to your posture and general circulation throughout your body. Staying sedentary for too long can prevent the body’s natural self-healing, increase blood pressure, and lead to high blood sugar.
But while these ailments can definitely be solved by a standing desk, there’s little research out there that suggests standing all day is better than sitting.
Here’s What the Research Says…
Few studies have been conducted to support the idea that standing is better for your health than sitting, and the few studies out there have yielded inconsistent or inconclusive results. To put it another way, standing desks aren’t necessarily better for you.
In a 2011 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), standing desks were shown to alleviate back and neck pain and improve overall mood. This conclusion sounds compelling, but it has two flaws: 1) the mood boost could very well be a simple placebo effect, and 2) the study didn’t investigate any of the potential drawbacks of a standing desk.
So Should You Buy One, or Not?
Despite the lack of evidence that a standing desk is beneficial from a physical standpoint, this does not rule out the possibility that it will enhance your overall working experience. Until more research is done, the best answer is likely based on your personal preferences and physical reactions to standing while you work.
Aside from physical health, there is a good chance that standing desks will have a positive impact on your mood and productivity!
