![O
ffices are pretty much of a
muchness, arent they? Inside, there
are many desks placed in front of
many chairs where many workers
spend many hours sitting slouched over
many keyboards staring at the many screens
of many computers. In fact, it is estimated
that half of all jobs in western society are
computer-based.
Inactivity
Our lifestyles are, on the whole, sedentary.
Not only are a large number of us desk-
bound C and, therefore, inactive throughout
the working day C but we also travel to and
from our workplaces on trains, buses or in our
cars C sitting C and at home, we eat C sitting
C and relax in front of the TV C sitting and so
on. Of late, all this inactivity has been linked
to increased risks of heart disease, diabetes,
cancer and even depression. Basically, its
killing us, with the medical world now dubbing
it the sitting disease.
Poor performance
And, by the way, its not great for our
productivity, either. Evidence suggests we all
need a break from tasks because the brain
begins to lose focus after?a long time spent
concentrating. This, in turn, can lead to poor
performance C and fitness experts maintain
that standing while you work can, in fact,
improve concentration by increasing blood
flow to the brain. Recent medical studies also
show that even active people are not immune
to these health concerns regarding too much
time spent sitting. With scientists claiming
sitting is the new smoking, then, if smoking is
Page 36 July/August 2015 ? www.practice-management.org.uk
bad for you (even with lots of exercise), sitting
for long periods of time must be, too.
Hunters and gatherers
So, just how can we stop sitting all day C a
dangerous habit thats light years away from
the hunters and gatherers we once were?
Fans of workplace wellness have been
extoling the virtues of stand up desks for a
long time and, what may have been once
dismissed by many as a quirky trend, may
just become the mainstay of healthy living.
Interest in them peaked earlier this month
with the release of the UKs first official health
guidelines that said office workers should be
on their feet for a minimum of two hours a day
during working hours.
The guidance, published in the British
Journal of Sports Medicine, warned that UK
sedentary behaviour now accounts for 60% of
peoples waking hours and, for those working
in offices, 65-75% of their working hours
are spent sitting, of which more than 50% of
this is accumulated in prolonged periods of
sustained sitting. The guidelines also suggest
that workers should use adjustable sit-stand
desks, and should go for light walks to
alleviate possible musculoskeletal pain and
fatigue as part of the adaptive process.
Increased productivity
And so, as a result of much media coverage,
stand up desks are growing in popularity
C the NHS itself is currently running a year-
long trial assessing the benefits of height-
adjustable desks [see box out]. And there is
whole selection of stand up desks out there,
A complementary word
Modern living is killing us C so, its about time we
stood up for our health, writes Julie Bissett?
Office workers do it
best standing up](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/bf20c7c4-f289-447d-97dd-ea1c6c85a755-151214090022/85/Standing-Desks-1-320.jpg)
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Standing Desks
- 1. O ffices are pretty much of a muchness, arent they? Inside, there are many desks placed in front of many chairs where many workers spend many hours sitting slouched over many keyboards staring at the many screens of many computers. In fact, it is estimated that half of all jobs in western society are computer-based. Inactivity Our lifestyles are, on the whole, sedentary. Not only are a large number of us desk- bound C and, therefore, inactive throughout the working day C but we also travel to and from our workplaces on trains, buses or in our cars C sitting C and at home, we eat C sitting C and relax in front of the TV C sitting and so on. Of late, all this inactivity has been linked to increased risks of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and even depression. Basically, its killing us, with the medical world now dubbing it the sitting disease. Poor performance And, by the way, its not great for our productivity, either. Evidence suggests we all need a break from tasks because the brain begins to lose focus after?a long time spent concentrating. This, in turn, can lead to poor performance C and fitness experts maintain that standing while you work can, in fact, improve concentration by increasing blood flow to the brain. Recent medical studies also show that even active people are not immune to these health concerns regarding too much time spent sitting. With scientists claiming sitting is the new smoking, then, if smoking is Page 36 July/August 2015 ? www.practice-management.org.uk bad for you (even with lots of exercise), sitting for long periods of time must be, too. Hunters and gatherers So, just how can we stop sitting all day C a dangerous habit thats light years away from the hunters and gatherers we once were? Fans of workplace wellness have been extoling the virtues of stand up desks for a long time and, what may have been once dismissed by many as a quirky trend, may just become the mainstay of healthy living. Interest in them peaked earlier this month with the release of the UKs first official health guidelines that said office workers should be on their feet for a minimum of two hours a day during working hours. The guidance, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, warned that UK sedentary behaviour now accounts for 60% of peoples waking hours and, for those working in offices, 65-75% of their working hours are spent sitting, of which more than 50% of this is accumulated in prolonged periods of sustained sitting. The guidelines also suggest that workers should use adjustable sit-stand desks, and should go for light walks to alleviate possible musculoskeletal pain and fatigue as part of the adaptive process. Increased productivity And so, as a result of much media coverage, stand up desks are growing in popularity C the NHS itself is currently running a year- long trial assessing the benefits of height- adjustable desks [see box out]. And there is whole selection of stand up desks out there, A complementary word Modern living is killing us C so, its about time we stood up for our health, writes Julie Bissett? Office workers do it best standing up
- 2. Management Page 37 ranging from freestanding workstations to others that are placed on top of a regular desk or table. Interestingly, many of those using them report feeling more energetic and more productive. And now, having taken delivery of a sit down/ stand up desk at the start of this month, I have already noticed my productivity increasing when Im on my feet. Im more creative, more alert and focused and get tasks completed efficiently; Im even more aware of my posture, too. I am taking my screen breaks regularly and, as Im up on my feet already, am visiting the water cooler more often, topping up on that all-essential H2O! The transition from stand up to sit down level is seamless and readily accommodates the recommended goal C breaking up the day to avoid the typical, constant sitting we all do in an office and factoring in more time spent standing, building up to two hours a day and beyond. By choosing to climb the stairs rather than the lift and taking a stroll at lunchtime rather than eating a sandwich hunched over a keyboard, you are also choosing the healthier options. Old habits are hard to break but, if we are to beat this sitting disease, a small investment of time on your feet may just prove to be a valuable long- term health asset. Health facts ? The average office worker will gain 16lbs in their first eight months whilst?working in an sitting environment. ? Researches shows that sitting in a chair for 10 or more hours a week can be directly linked to weight gain, back issues and circulatory problems in the long run. In contrast, standing seems to reverse many of these illnesses. ? Standing improves your breathing by allowing the chest to be fully open, giving full facility to the diaphragm, maximising the available capacity for air intake into your lungs and so delivering more oxygen to your body that, in turn, improves your concentration. ? Instead of crouching over the computer screen, move naturally. This allows the body to burn calories and engages muscles, the extra movement allows the blood to circulate throughout the body. ? Standing is an effective approach to tackling high blood pressure. Hypertension is an excessive fall in blood pressure that occurs when a person stands up or is in an upright position. 10 reasons to use a standing desk 1. Burns more calories 2. Corrects posture 3. Improves circulation 4. Better breathing 5. Engages muscles 6. Kick-starts metabolism 7. Improves concentration and confidence 8. Reduces stress 9. Reduces blood pressure 10. A better nights sleep NHS gets staff moving The NHS is running a year-long trial assessing the benefits of height-adjustable desks. Three hospitals in Leicestershire now have the desks, which offer clerical and admin staff the choice of raising or lowering them whilst working at a computer. Staff using the desks will also be given regular prompts via a wristband reminding them to move. Researchers will monitor the differences in health, wellbeing and performance between those who use them and another group who use sitting desks. Dr Munir, senior lecturer in psychology in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences (SSEHS), said: Sitting is extremely harmful. It has been linked to a risk of diabetes, obesity, and a lot of metabolic diseases. People are sitting far too long.?The evidence now suggests that if you are sitting for eight, nine hours and you then do one hour of exercise, it has very little impact.? Im hoping to find that workers will feel much more energised because they are breaking up their bouts of sitting, and allowing the blood and oxygen to flow through the body better.