Have you been thinking that switching to a standing desk may just be the cure to your pain and suffering from working on a computer all day? You are not alone. Many people seek a product or pill solution to what is often a postural problem. Although there are benefits to a custom fit sit to stand desk and applicable training, there are complications that come from having a standing solution that is not custom. At Structured Health Resources we often say that standing is the new vaping because people expect sit to stand devices to be the solution to a bad habit when often they create more issues than benefits.

Here are two examples:

A converter that sits on the desk places the keyboard and mouse above the work surface by one inch. We find that standard work surfaces are typically already too high for anyone under 6 feet, so the converter even further necessitates a lifted arm with compression on the surface–two high risk exposures to musculoskeletal disorders. Secondly, if a sit to stand desk is purchased with a limited range of high and low height adjustments, it can place the surface too low for individuals near or above 6 feet. This causes them to slouch and lean forward and down when in a standing work posture.

Multiple times we have removed converters and asked for desks to be extended to a higher standing setting to accommodate the issues described above with reported improved comfort and reduced symptoms from participants.

Keep in mind the “movement movement” is based on the benefit of avoiding static work and adding movement to our work. Remember typewriters? You had to input paper, return the carriage, remove the paper, add envelopes, get signatures, file papers…that is a lot of movement! There is less effort required with computers so adding movement is beneficial. When we sit back in our chair, we facilitate movement; when we drink a lot of water, we facilitate movement; when we set reminders or triggers to get up, we facilitate movement; and when we communicate face-to-face, we facilitate movement.

If you do not have the resources to get a custom sit to stand solution please consider other ways to add movement to your day. Sitting in a neutral posture is not the new smoking but standing when it is not custom fit is the new vaping.

#StandingIsTheNewVaping
www.standingisthenewvaping.com