Do doctors recommend standing desks?
Savanna McGlynn
2025-07-08 08:30:50
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The answer is yes – as long as you use them correctly. According to science, it’s a resounding yes. Researchers at the University of Leicester found that office workers who used sit-stand desks significantly reduced their sitting time. By standing more, participants reported reduced fatigue and a greater sense of well-being. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy recommends that office workers aim to spend at least two hours of their workday standing or moving, and gradually increase this over time. Wear supportive shoes and use an anti-fatigue mat to cushion your feet when using a standing desk. Experts recommend standing for 20-30 minutes at a time, and then sitting for a while before standing again. Standing may lower the risk of heart disease, and using a standing desk may lower blood sugar levels. Standing desks may boost productivity, and researchers found that office workers who used sit-stand desks experienced less psychological strain and greater job satisfaction than those who used traditional desks.
Quinton McCullough
2025-07-03 16:31:05
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While the new study suggests that a standing desk is unlikely to help with weight loss or avoiding weight gain, there may be other reasons to stand while you work. Advocates of standing desks point to studies showing that after a meal, blood sugar levels return to normal faster on days a person spends more time standing. And standing, rather than sitting, may reduce the risk of shoulder and back pain. Other potential health benefits of a standing desk are assumed based on the finding that long hours of sitting are linked with a higher risk of obesity diabetes cardiovascular disease cancer (especially cancers of the colon or breast) premature death. For most of these potential benefits, rigorous studies of standing desks have not yet been performed. So, the real health impact of a standing desk is not certain. It's also true that certain tasks — especially those requiring fine motor skills — are more accurately performed while seated. So, a standing desk may not be a good answer for everyone who sits a lot at work.
Caleigh Lakin
2025-06-25 15:16:24
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Our expert physiotherapists have been delving into this to help answer this and other questions. The first health benefit is that it can help reduce discomfort and pain in your body. It is generally recommended to stand at your desk for 25% of the day, split into 15 minutes out of every hour. As previously mentioned, standing all day can cause similar problems to sitting all day, so it’s important to make the switch and use a combination of the two throughout the day. Remember to make the switch between sitting and standing throughout the day. To stand at your desk for the whole day can also cause aches and pain and repetitive strain injuries. If you are considering any workstation adjustment such as a sit to stand desk due to an injury or pain it would be beneficial to have a Workstation Assessment, also known as a DSE assessment, which Physiotherapy Matters can carry out for you. There is no doubt that standing at a desk can be beneficial to your health. You burn more calories when standing, and you are more likely to move around when stood up. Increased movement and adjustment of your posture can help to reduce the risk of repetitive strain injury, as long as you are working in the right posture.
Hailie Lemke
2025-06-12 21:54:57
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The key takeaway is that standing for too long will not offset an otherwise sedentary lifestyle and could be risky for some people in terms of circulatory health. We found that standing more does not improve cardiovascular health over the long-term and increases the risk of circulatory issues. For people who sit for long periods on a regular basis, including plenty of incidental movement throughout the day and structured exercise may be a better way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Take regular breaks, walk around, go for a walking meeting, use the stairs, take regular breaks when driving long distances, or use that lunch hour to get away from the desk and do some movement. The more people can avoid being stationary, the better. Over the long term, the study showed that standing time was not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, however it did have other circulatory health implications for some. It is important to get active to reduce this risk.
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