How A Stand Up Desk Can Solve Your Back Problems

Do you have a desk job? Do you find yourself with aching lower back problems? If so, you are not alone. There are countless people all over the world who sit at computer tables for hours on end. This is not an ideal situation for a healthy spine. Luckily, there is a solution. You can purchase a specially designed desk that facilitates standing while working.

These are not really a new idea; there have been standing desks for years. Winston Churchill, for example, embraced the idea of a standing desk. In years past, these people have used lecterns. However, a lectern is not really designed to hold a computer and keyboard. Modern furniture manufacturers have designed office workstations that can accommodate all sorts of needs.

Why Is Sitting Bad?

Have you heard the phrase "sitting is the new smoking"? Well, the idea behind it is that sitting, or more precisely, a sedentary lifestyle, is the new deadly habit. People are not told that sitting on a chair can kill them, but it can, in fact, lead to serious health problems. Here is a breakdown on the detriment that sitting is doing to your body.

Get Up And Move Around

The good news is that you don't have to be in constant motion. You can still sit at a desk and get your job done. All it takes to eliminate the negative effects of sitting is to get up every so often and walk around or do some simple stretches.

You could take the opportunity to go to the kitchen and get some water to drink. This is healthy on two fronts. You are hydrating yourself and also walking around. You might also want to stand up and do some light stretching at your desk. You could even pull up a yoga video on your computer and do a 60 second stretch.

What About That Standing Desk?

The optimal solution is a desk that you can stand at. These eliminate the need to sit in a chair for hours. You can stand right at your desk and work at your keyboard. There are two types of standing desks. The first type is a fixed height. If you are planning on getting a fixed height desk, then you will need to get out a measuring tape. You need to know exactly how high you want the desk to be. A fixed desk cannot be lowered or raised.

A second option is a standing desk that has the option of raising or lowering the height. Some of these desks are designed with pneumatic devices that allow you to raise and lower the height of the entire desk by pushing a lever.

A third method is to get a smaller desk that "sits" on top of your old desk. The second desk can be lifted and adjusted using a knob on the base. The benefit to this method is that it is very inexpensive. The drawback is that the tray can only hold the keyboard. The monitor is held on a ratcheting arm. There is no room for a printer, paper tray or phone. They would all have to stay on the lower desk.