You’ve likely heard the term “sitting is the new smoking.” That’s because the sedentary posture our culture has right now is detrimental to our health. Prolonged sitting is associated with an increased risk for many health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, dementia, and even cancer. We don’t have a genetic defense for sitting because our bodies were designed to move regularly, not sit.
The Ability to Change Our Posture
“I love a standing desk because we can change our posture frequently throughout the day,” said Dr. Goffe. If you have a desk that’s set up to be standing or sitting, you can routinely move from one position to another, say every half hour to hour.
“That helps our body use different muscles and gives us different inputs into our nervous system, so we can adjust and adapt to work posture better throughout the day,” he added. Going from standing to sitting and sitting to standing throughout the day helps our body much more.
Consider Getting a Footrest
One of the things that can be helpful while we are standing for an extended period is to ensure we have some type of footrest that’s about 6-8 inches high. Having a footrest allows us to move from one foot to the other and prevents swayback. Moreover, the use of a footrest provides much more comfort for those standing throughout the day.
Boost Focus & Alertness
When you’re hunched over your desk, you tend to feel lethargic and ready for a nap. That’s not the case with a standing desk. The change in position stimulates our nervous system in an area called mechanoreceptors (the body’s sensors for motion) so when we move and adjust, that action changes our alertness, wakefulness, and ability to focus.
Of course, we recommend getting a chiropractic adjustment regularly, which can improve your posture and overall health!