Standing desk

Sitting for too long increases the risk of numerous lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity and significant postural damage to the musculoskeletal system.However, in the office it is often necessary to sit at a desk for hours. A standing desk can help here, because it allows you to work comfortably while standing.

What is a standing desk?

A standing desk, often also known under the English name "Standing Desk", is a desk whose work surface is at a height that enables its user to work while standing. Often the models are height adjustable by an electric motor or a gas pressure spring, so that you can switch between sitting and standing positions.

Humans are not made for long, monotonous sitting, and such a posture can cause numerous health problems. Working while standing, on the other hand, not only automatically leads to a healthier posture, but also prevents other civilization diseases caused by sitting.

Shapes, types & types

Standing desks are available in different designs, some of which you can even build yourself. The simplest form is the standing desk, which has been used for several centuries. It is often used as a lectern, but it is also suitable for some forms of desk work such as reading and writing.

The second possible design is a predominantly rigid standing desk. This is set up like a normal desk, but has a significantly higher worktop that allows you to work while standing. At a rigid standing desk, the user is forced to work standing up. It is true that such models must also be able to be adapted to the individual body size, but the height adjustment takes some time.

The third and most common form of standing desk in offices is the adjustable model. With these multifunctional desks, the height of the worktop can usually be adjusted with little time and effort using an electric motor or a gas pressure spring. This means that these desks can be used both while sitting and standing.

Structure & functionality

The simplest form of the standing desk, the standing desk, has a sloping work surface that enables comfortable reading and writing while standing. Since nothing can be placed on the standing desk due to the inclined surface, it is less suitable for working on the PC. The standing desk is therefore best suited as a short-term alternative to sitting at a desk.

The worktop of normal standing desks is straight like a normal desk. This means that work utensils and electronic devices such as laptops or telephones can easily be placed on it. Sometimes standing desks are ordinary desks to which only longer legs have been screwed on.

However, more modern models can be height-adjusted within a few seconds using an electric motor or a gas pressure spring and allow their user to choose between standing and sitting positions. As a rule, the height of such models can be adjusted in a range between 68 and 128 centimeters.

Height-adjustable standing desks with a so-called "memory function" are particularly recommended. This function allows you to save your own optimal heights for working while standing or sitting. This enables an even faster and less complicated change of position while working.

In principle, all standing desks are height-adjustable, but not with as little expenditure of time and effort as the electronically adjustable models. However, every standing desk must be able to be adapted to the height of its user. The optimum height is reached when the arms are resting on the table surface at an angle of about 90 degrees.

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Medical & health benefits

There are numerous health benefits to using a standing desk. First of all, a standing desk prevents postural damage in the musculoskeletal system, which can result from long, monotonous sitting. The muscle groups of the holding apparatus, i.e. the muscles in the legs, trunk, back and shoulders, are constantly activated when standing because they have to maintain balance. In addition, the body is significantly more upright when standing. This training also improves posture in the long term in everyday life.

A standing, active posture not only creates more freedom of movement, it also increases brain performance and productivity. When standing, the brain has been shown to be more focused on its tasks.

While the body goes into sleep mode in monotonous sitting positions, the metabolism is clearly stimulated when standing. Since the postural muscles have to be constantly active, standing consumes a lot of energy. The body will automatically want to shift its weight from one leg to the other, which also supports the circulation.

Standing also improves blood circulation and stimulates the cardiovascular system. In the short term, this prevents swollen legs and back or neck pain in the evening. In the long term, working while standing prevents numerous diseases of civilization such as cardiovascular problems up to heart attacks and strokes, diabetes, obesity, herniated discs and thrombosis. The risk of developing mental illnesses such as chronic stress or depression is also minimized by standing compared to sitting.

However, standing too long can cause physical complaints such as back pain or knee problems. It is therefore ideal to incorporate standing and sitting phases alternately into everyday work. A desk that can be height-adjusted within a few seconds by an electric motor is ideal for this.