5 exercises to help get the most of your electric sit-stand desk

Electric Sit-stand Desk

5 exercises to help get the most of your electric sit-stand desk

If youโ€™re like most of us, the only part of you that gets any considerable amount of exercise in a typical workday are your fingers, as you tap away on your keyboard between 9am and 5pm.

While itโ€™s certainly good news for those of us who have fidgety fingers, itโ€™s bad news for the rest of our bodies!

Believe it or not, standing all day isnโ€™t much better either, as it can accelerate wear on our joints, muscle and cartilage.

However, there is a solution!

Alternating between sitting and standing throughout the day using an electric sit-stand desk.

This isnโ€™t just us saying it, either – according to the experts, this is the ideal way to protect your health while at work.

However, that isnโ€™t all you can doโ€ฆ

Standing isnโ€™t the only exercise you can do in the office

The reason alternating between sitting and standing is so effective is that itโ€™s โ€œincidentalโ€ exercise – while not exactly high-intensity, itโ€™s much closer to how our bodies are designed to operate.

However, you can take this even further by incorporating regular stretches and exercises into your daily routine.

Donโ€™t worry, you donโ€™t need to invest in a desk bike, dumbbells or replace your chair with an exercise ball.

Luckily for you, each of the stretches and exercises weโ€™re about to list can be done from your desk!

Desk dips

Good for: triceps, shoulders, chest

What youโ€™ll need: a desk

What youโ€™ll want to do is stand up facing away from your desk.

Place your palms on the edge of the desk, let your legs go slack and gradually bend your elbows and lower your body until your elbows are at a 90-degree angle.

Try to dip 10 or 20 times, and aim to do this two or three times throughout the day.

Lunges

Good for: glutes, pelvis, hamstrings

What youโ€™ll need: some space

Many of the exercises on this list can be done with minimal equipment. Lunges, however, can be done just about anywhere – and no equipment is required!

All you need is a bit of clear space.

Then, place on leg in front of the other and lean forward until both knees are at a 45-degree angle, ensuring the rear knee doesnโ€™t touch the floor.

Once youโ€™re done, repeat with your other leg. Aim for 30 lunges (15 lunges per leg).

Torso twists

Good for: torso, including abdominals and stabilisers

What youโ€™ll need: a swivel chair (preferably an ergonomically-designed one)

If you use a swivel office chair in conjunction with your electric sit-stand desk, torso twists are a simple exercise that you can do throughout the day to activate your torso muscles.

Itโ€™s simple: swivel your chair to one side while keeping your head and shoulders facing forward (or at least, as forward-facing as you can).

Hold the pose for 10 seconds, before repeating on the other side a couple of times.

Calf raises

Good for: calves

What youโ€™ll need: space, a desk (recommended)

When you get down to it, calf raises are one of the simplest office exercises out there –ย  essentially, all youโ€™re doing is standing on your tiptoes, nothing more!

โ€ฆ okay, so perhaps it isnโ€™t quite that simple. Still, calf raises are pretty straightforward.

Stand on your tiptoes, and hold that position for about 10 seconds before gently lowering back down.

Repeat for 2 minutes – we recommend using your desk for support (as long as you donโ€™t lean on it).

Wall slides

Good for: quads

What youโ€™ll need: a wall

Calf raises might be simple – however, another exercise thatโ€™s just as simple and easy to pull off are wall slides.

What youโ€™ll want to do is put your back to a wall, with your legs out at a bit of an angle and your soles flat on the floor.

Then, gently lower yourself into a squatting position until your knees are at a 90-degree angle.

Hold for a few seconds, before gently returning to a standing position and repeat for a minute or two.

It may sound simple, but this exercise can improve leg strength, balance and posture, among other things!

Standing Desk

The benefits of an electric sit-stand desk

While these exercises can help you keep your body healthy during the workday, the best way to stand up for your health is to, well, stand up!

As weโ€™re sure youโ€™re aware, spending too much time seated at work has been labelled by many health professionals as a silent killer, who have identified it as a major contributor to:

According to those same health professionals, the best way to protect your health (and your waistline) is to consistently alternate between sitting and standing.

And an electric sit-stand desk allows you to do just that!

With the ability to switch between presets and save custom heights, electric sit-stand desks allow you to get the most benefit out of your standing deskโ€ฆ without having to fiddle with knobs or dials, or worse: a manual crank!

Stand up for your health with Ergomotion

A healthier workplace starts with your office furniture.

From electric sit-stand desks, to ergonomically-designed office chairs, to desk accessories, Ergomotion produces a range of specially designed office furniture that allows you to enjoy a healthier workplace.

Desk size, chair height, stylingโ€ฆ all of this is personal, and can vary depending on preference and what you do in the office.

Thatโ€™s why we work closely with you to design office furniture that isnโ€™t just ergonomic, but a perfect fit for your workplace and body.

Get in touch with our ergonomics experts today to see how we can help create a healthier workplace with our standing desks.

Call us on (03) 9579 1454, or click here to get in touch online.

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

Google Reviews

Ergomotion

Google Reviews

Fran Prem 29/05/25

Google
So happy with my new sit/stand desk. The price was very competitive and the quality is excellent. It's very unusual these days to have the level of human to human customer service Guy offered, from the time of ordering all the way to installation. Guy delivered my desk on time, put it together, set up my computer and tidied away the cables. Such a nice person, and a wonderful experience. Would highly recommend.

Pree P 28/03/25

Google
My brother in lawโ€™s glowing recommendation of the ergomotion sit- stand desk that he has been using for a few years now, and specially the service that Guy delivers, piqued my interest. And now I am convert!

From the moment I first interacted with Guy to the day my standing desk arrived, Iโ€™ve been nothing short of impressed. The booking process was incredibly smooth and hassle-free - Guy made everything so simple and straightforward. His customer service was top-notch, with clear communication and genuine helpfulness made the overall process even more amazing. I appreciate how patiently he answered my questions and explained the care instructions for the wooden top.

For the product itself! The standing desk is a game-changer - the attention to detail, premium material used, beautiful design, smooth adjustment all transformed my home office. The craftsmanship is top-notch. What really sets this experience apart is how much I genuinely enjoy using the desk every single day. Would highly recommend!! Thank you ๐Ÿ™

Wesley Dao 12/02/25

Google
Bought a standing desk after looking around at options. Solid wood and Linak frame so all around good quality. Assembly was simple with an electric screwdriver. Guy was very helpful and responsive.

Amanda O 28/01/25

Google
Bought a standing desk and I love it. Quality product at a great price. Amazing service from Guy, who helped explain the desk and accessories for efficient workspace setup. I highly recommend.

Rick Bruce 02/11/24

Google
After doing some due diligence and research into actuators I settled on this unit from ergomotion this unit is so solid and the operation is quite and flawless. The purchasing process and the shipping was absolutely fantastic!! I couldnโ€™t be happier with the product and the entire process, I would highly recommend this companyโ€ฆ. Rick Bruce

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!
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