INTRODUCTION TO ERGONOMIC DESKS


Ergonomics refers to the way designers create equipment to align comfortably with the shape of the human body.

Having an ergonomic desk (also called “standing”) at home or in the office will improve your posture, reduce back pain and boost your positive mood. Taking into account the price of these products it’s easy to assume that, once they are purchased and installed, all of your workday problems will disappear.

The truth is a standing desk, in and of itself, won't solve all your workplace problems unless you put a little effort into understanding how to properly set it up and use it.




HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PROLONGED SITTING OR STANDING


How often do you feel your body stiff from sitting long hours at your desk? Most of us spend at least 7 hours sitting every day, causing short and long-term impacts on your health. Sitting for extended periods of time increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Not using the powerful legs and gluteus muscles leads to muscle atrophy. Your hips and back will also suffer from prolonged sitting. Poor body posture causes compression of the spinal discs and can lead to extensive degeneration, which results in chronic back pain.

Could standing for long periods of time cause health issues? Although standing is a natural human posture, working in a standing position consistently can cause sore feet, varicose veins, low back pain, neck and shoulders stiffness and other health issues.


It’s usually not advisable to remain standing at an ergonomic desk for each assignment. Quick tasks such as taking a conference call or quick emailing are a good example of standing activities. On the other hand, delving into complex calculations, design, writing or research will be easier while sitting. Give yourself a few 20-minute standing intervals throughout the day to avoid overstraining your body until you find the perfect balance between sitting and standing that fits your individual needs.


How to adjust your Ergonomic desk correctly?


Make sure you know the height range of the standing desk before purchase and choose one that suits your height. All you need to do is measure the distance from your elbow to the floor when sitting and standing and compare it to the desk technical data. For appropriate positioning you should be able to adjust the height so that your elbows rest at a comfortable 90-degree angle at the desk tabletop or to the chair arm supports when sitting.

When you position the ergonomic desk and yourself correctly it’s time to optimize your workspace ergonomically. In addition to desk height adjustment it is strongly recommended to fine-tune your screen height in order to avoid neck pain, incorrect head tilting and headaches. With proper adjustments the monitor should be directly in front of your face with its top slightly below eye level. Distance from your eyes to the front of the screen is vital to preventing eye strain. Generally, the preferred focal distance is between 20 and 30 inches depending on your vision, eye condition and current task.




Working on a laptop is definitely a challenge for ergonomics. If a laptop serves as your main screen, consider using a separate ergonomic keyboard and mouse that provide correct hand and wrist alignment. Elevating the laptop itself using a stand or even a few books is highly recommended so that you can comfortably look at the screen without unnecessary head tilting.


WRAPPING UP


Now that we have covered all aspects of correct body posture and desk adjustments, no doubt the ergonomics provided by the standing desk has the highest contribution to your comfort and wellness.

A properly adjusted ergonomic desk allows you to sit or stand comfortably, feel more energetic and be more focused and productive. Do not wait too long until you recognize the ergonomic risk for yourself and act before any health problems arise. Improve your performance and overall well-being and try one of our ergonomic desks.