Combat Health Risks of Prolonged Sitting with Ergonomic Solutions

Health Risks Prolonged Sitting

Combat Health Risks of Prolonged Sitting with Ergonomic Solutions

In today’s digital age, many of us find ourselves glued to our desks for hours on end, whether we’re working from an office or the comfort of our own homes. This sedentary lifestyle, however, is far from ideal. Yale Medicine warns that continuous sitting can lead to a host of health issues including diabetes, heart disease, weight gain, depression, dementia, and even various types of cancer. Furthermore, the hunched posture often adopted while working on a computer can exacerbate these issues, leading to lower back pain, neck strain, and spasms.

So how can we counteract these health risks? The first solution is straightforward: take regular breaks to walk around every half an hour or so. This advice is echoed by numerous medical professionals who emphasize the importance of regular movement to break up prolonged periods of sitting. But what about those times when work or study simply demands your attention for longer stretches? This is where the second solution comes into play: investing in ergonomic furniture such as chairs and sit stand desks.

Poor posture can lead to a myriad of ailments including poor balance, headaches, breathing difficulties, incontinence, constipation, heartburn, and slowed digestion, according to Harvard Health. Ergonomic chairs are designed to support good posture while sitting by offering optimized padding, adjustable parts for height and comfort, and crucially, back and neck support.

A prime example of an ergonomic chair is the Herman Miller Aeron. This iconic chair is a common sight in high-end offices due to its customizable comfort and support. It comes in three sizes (A โ€“ small, B โ€“ medium, C โ€“ large) that vary in height, width, depth, and weight capacity. Each model includes breathable fabric for comfort, fully adjustable arms, and PostureFit SL pads that stabilize the base of the spine. The chair also features a tilt mechanism that allows for a smooth transition between different postures.

The Steelcase Gesture chair, while slightly more affordable, is similarly designed with spinal health in mind. Its contoured backrest aligns with the natural curvature of your spine, offering full support whether you’re seated upright or leaning back. This chair is designed to accommodate all heights and body types and comes with a manual mechanism to adjust seat height and depth.

For those on a tighter budget, the C7 ergonomic chair offers a dynamic design with a plethora of customizable adjustments. It includes a breathable mesh back, lockable positions, an adjustable headrest, and lumbar support cushion. This chair aims to improve posture, relieve spinal stress, reduce abdominal pressure, and enhance blood circulation while seated.

While ergonomic chairs are a great start, standing desks offer an additional layer of support for maintaining good body health. Sitting for extended periods can strain your spine and lead to back and neck problems. A standing desk can help alleviate this pressure, promote proper posture, and improve blood circulation.

However, standing all day can also have its downsides, such as knee and leg strain. That’s why the best sit stand desk is one that is adjustable. The Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk is a prime example of this. It offers a range of customizations including different colors, materials, and accessories. Its programmable handset and 3-stage desk legs make it particularly suitable for taller individuals, but versions with 2-stage and 3-stage low legs can accommodate shorter users.

The UPLIFT Desk is another popular choice in the standing desk market, offering over 200 desktop choices. Over the last two decades, this desk has been continuously improved upon with a focus on stability and durability. It now boasts a travel range of 25.6 inches that is more than adequate for most users.

In conclusion, while prolonged sitting can pose serious health risks, there are ergonomic solutions available to mitigate these risks. So whether you’re considering how to choose the best standing desk, looking for an electric height adjustable standing desk, or simply want to learn more about the health benefits of an electric stand up desk, remember that your health is an investment worth making.

author avatar
Guy Director
Higher Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. Ergomotion Director since 2005.

Google Reviews

Ergomotion

Google Reviews

Shelley Jensen 07/09/24

Google
Guy (the owner) delivered the desk and set it up quickly. He then gave me a lesson on how to use it and how to get the most out of it. Arrived on time and was absolutely lovely to deal with throughout the whole process. Highly recommend.

clifford sneider 06/09/24

Google
Guy was fantastic and the desk is amazing

Jo Manning 08/08/24

Google
I bought an adjustable desk from Guy a couple of years ago, got great service and good price. Recently we had a tiny issue which could not be fixed over the phone. Guy was more than happy to come out and look at it 2 days later. All fixed! I really appreciated his patience with me and accommodating us so quickly. Great old fashioned service and piece of mind. I love it. I know where to get my second desk when needed. Thank you Guy. Jo Manning

Deborah Hunt 25/07/24

Google
ergomotion were fantastic to deal with. excellent customer service and a great product.

Andrew Pieterse 14/06/24

Google
Great service and really quick shipping. It is great to know that you are getting quality parts from a Scandinavian manufacturer with your standing desk purchase rather than the cheap knock off stuff you get from other major brands. Reasonably priced for the quality too!

Janette Clarke 20/05/24

Google
Guy was very accommodating with meeting him at a time that suited me. He assembled the desk prior to me collecting so I only had to carry it inside with help (it's pretty heavy). The desk is great, the storage racks underneath with the 6 x built in powerpoints was worth the extra money. I have a functioning & tidy workplace.
Guy was brilliant, I highly recommend.
Janette

Nickel 10/05/24

Google
Have now purchased 2 stand up office desks off Guy, benchmark sales service from him, all via email, so easy; from quote to plug in, only matched by the strong quality of these machines, solid and stable. If only everything in life was this easy and reliable.

Jennifer Fadriquela 23/03/24

Google
I purchased an EDesk this month from Ergomotion, and it was a remarkably smooth transaction. Guy was eager to answer all my questions before my purchase. As a first-time buyer of a standing desk, I truly appreciated how he addressed my queries with thorough details and provided options within my budget.

The delivery process was also smooth, despite a slight delay in the ETA. Guy ensured I received all necessary updates from the courier/removalist.

I've been using the desk for a couple of weeks now and I'm satisfied with it. It's sturdy on all height adjustments and the motor works as expected. I also like oak finish because it's clean-looking and suits my room setup.

Overall, I'm happy with my purchase and I'll definitely recommend Ergomotion to someone looking for their desk needs.

Josh Oliver 04/02/24

Google
I've had an ergomotion desk for 10 years. It's still as good today as it was brand new. Over the years Guy has always responded promptly to any guidance I've needed (mostly help putting the desk back together after removalists take it apart).

Michael Cheung 18/01/24

Google
Great service from Guy and the team at Ergomotion! Helped with all my queries and was able to source a standing desk part for me when many others weren't able! Highly recommend!
Read more...