Sitting vs. Standing at Work – Which is Best?

You know the story – most of us spend far too much time sedentary and don’t get enough movement into our days. We’re told to spend less time sitting but also advised not to be on our feet all day. When you work an office job, it’s hard to know what’s best: sitting or standing at your desk.

Sitting at Work

Standing up at work (and therefore, not sitting for extended periods of time) has been found to reduce the risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, long-term mortality, and chronic back pain, as well as boosting energy levels, mood, muscle tone, and productivity.

Standing at Work

However, a study published in the journal Ergonomics found that standing all day may not be good for us either: 

“Standing for a two-hour chunk during the work day, that study found, may lead to physical discomfort all over the body, and make it harder to stay focused and energized.” (Fortune)

Finding Balance

Recent research points to incorporating a mix of both standing and sitting into our work days, in order to reap the biggest benefits. It seems that a balance which takes an individual’s weight and fitness (amongst other health factors) into consideration makes the most sense. Consulting your doctor, if in doubt, can also be a good start. 

Here at Direct Ergonomics, we believe the most important thing is providing employees with the flexibility to sit or stand, and ultimately, find a combination that works for them. That’s why we advocate for sit-to-stand desks.

“The use of sit-stand desks has been scientifically proven to improve your productivity, concentration and increase your creativity… It has also been found that sit-stand desks have the ability to increase productivity from up to 10-20%… sit-stand desks will lead to much greater health than those who sit for an extensive period of time.” (Posture Group)

Check out our collection of products that allow the user to adjust the height of their worktop (from sitting to standing) here.