Not Just a Trend: Standing Desks in the Workplace

London-ergomotion

Not Just a Trend: Standing Desks in the Workplace

Just recently, I was doing some research on standing desks, keeping up-to-date with new standing desk trends, experiments, and studies, and just generally finding out what others were saying about the desks, their own health, and their workplace culture.

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One such sentiment I came across seemed a little unfair. It was an online article that was taking quite a jibe at standing desks and the culture they promote at work. Standing desks were referred to as purely a status symbol amongst the tech offices of the Silicon Valley, the high-tech region (home of Facebook, Google, Apple and eBay, to name just a few) in Northern California.

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Sure, standing desks are prominent across these well-known workplaces, but itโ€™s the conversation based around these workplaces that have helped popularise and educate โ€“ on a global scale, no less! โ€“ the influence and benefits of an active office.

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Standing desks arenโ€™t a post-2010 fad or trendy movement

One of the oldest and most well known studies that compared sedentary work to active work was a study published by The Lancet that measured the correlation between physical activity at work and coronary heart disease. This study involved drivers and conductors from the London Transport Service.

 

London bus standing vs sitting experinemtn
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The two variables differed in that bus drivers sat for 90 per cent of their day while bus conductors stood and moved up and down stairs (to the tune of about 600 steps!) during their day. The study was conducted in 1949 and data was published in 1953 indicating that conductors had โ€œfewer than half the heart attacks of their sedentary colleaguesโ€.

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Jeremy Morris, the British epidemiologist who conducted this study, is credited as โ€œthe guy who did the systematic research that invented the whole field of physical activity epidemiologyโ€. He also conducted many follow up studies.

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And the correlation between physical activity and health goes back even further than that. Itโ€™s speculated that some of the first recognition of health and activity dates way back to the fifth century BC by Greek physician Hippocrates. He wrote:

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โ€œAll parts of the body, if used in moderation and exercised in labors to which each is accustomed,

become thereby healthy and well developed and age slowly; but if they are unused and left idle,

they become liable to disease, defective in growth and age quickly.โ€ย (Source)

 

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They arenโ€™t just for the big guys in Silicon Valleyโ€ฆ

โ€ฆBut if anything, itโ€™s thanks to them, as well as various publications highlighting the reasons behind this movement, that has educated the world on the perils of a sedentary lifestyle and the benefits of breaking up your day with both sitting and standing.

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Sure, the big guys in Silicon Valley are using standing desks (and they have no doubt contributed to their popularity), but so are many others. It is thanks to the buzz generated by these companies that has helped increase awareness and encourage people like you and I to take preventative, smart steps towards our health and lifestyle.

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Are you sitting right now? Does your lower back ache? Are your eyes drooping, is it hard to concentrate and are your shoulders sore? An electronic height adjustable desk could transform your sluggish body into a body that practices good posture, promotes blood flow, and can help improve attentiveness and concentration. And all of this can be achieved in seconds with the push of a button.

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They arenโ€™t just a status symbolโ€ฆ

โ€ฆrather, theyโ€™re a smart approach to your health, promotes a healthier workplace, and is a great catalyst in encouraging conversation and change.

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You shouldnโ€™t have to wait for a sore back or bad leg to start standing during your workday. Take preventative action before injuries occur. Stand up for you health โ€“ view our electric sit stand desks or contact us today to further discuss your and your businessโ€™ needs!

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

Google Reviews

Ergomotion

Google Reviews

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!

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).
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