Standing desks have risen in popularity because of the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle that can occur when sitting for long periods of time at home or at an office. Sitting inherently uses less energy than standing or walking. When one sits for a long period of time, blood flow slows down since the resting heart rate is lower. Without proper movement or exercise to balance out this sedentary period, many negative side effects can occur, including: 

  • Stress on the spine and other joints, 
  • A decrease of available nutrition to the joints, 
  • The build-up of fatty acids in the blood vessels, 
  • Heart disease, 
  • Blood clots, 
  • Elevated blood sugar, 
  • Type II diabetes, and 
  • Obesity. 

 

Sitting isn’t inherently bad, however, most employees that work in person sit on their commute to and from work as well as sit at their desk for 8 or more hours. On top of that, they may sit for long periods once they are home to unwind from the day. Employees that work from home face the same long periods of sitting with the exception of commute times.  

 

But, are standing desks the answer to battle sitting? Not necessarily. 

Standing, like sitting, is stationary. According to a 2024 study, standing is equal to sitting for an increased risk of orthostatic circulatory diseases- including orthostatic hypotension (OH) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). While standing was not associated with a rise in cardiovascular disease (CVD), it was the same as sitting when it came to the occurrence of orthostatic circulatory disease. 

 

This study, conducted by Matthew Ahmandi, asserts, “The lack of muscle movement during stationary time may result in a reduced venous return by skeletal muscle contraction and pumps contributing to venous pooling, causing orthostatic circulatory problems.” 

Stationary standing can also be linked to MSK disorders dependent on an individual’s posture, underlying conditions, and more. One could experience a number of MSK concerns, including but not limited to pain in the low back, hips, knees, ankles, and feet.  

 

Move More 

Because sitting and standing are stationary, a standing desk is not the end-all-be-all solution for avoiding overall health risks. Findings overall indicate to move more, even throughout the workday. The CDC suggests moving for 5 minutes after sitting for 30 minutes.  

Moving more is certainly important, but it is also necessary to ensure that the workstation is adjusted to an employee’s MSK needs. The Solveglobal team performs ergonomic assessments to ensure that posture-related MSK risks are reduced through early intervention as well as treating any discomfort or pain one might feel throughout the day. Our MSK specialists can also provide individualized exercises an employee can complete during a 5-minute move session so they are actively working to reduce MSKs.  

 

Learn more about how Solveglobal can help your employees at Solveglobal.com.