There's been a lot said recently about the health risks of sitting down at work all day. We're being encouraged to get up and walk around more during the day, or even better to abandon the chair for periods during the day and instead, stand at our desks.
In Scandinavia, they've spoken about the benefits of standing at your desks for many years. Companies there have taken action by providing employees with specially designed desks which can be altered to suit the desired working height, whether sitting or standing. The UK is also starting to 'take a stance' with more stand up desks being rolled out across the country.
The negative effects of sitting all day include:
- Stiffness, back, neck and shoulder discomfort
- Feeling tired and sluggish
- Headaches and migraines
- Obesity through inactivity and fewer calories burned
- Increased risk of heart attack, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease
Whilst experts and medical reports speak widely about the negative effects of sitting down all day, less is said about the negative effects that prolonged standing has on our joints, including back ache and aching feet for instance. If we flip the problem of sitting down on its head, those who have to stand up at work all day will testify to the importance of taking regular breaks to sit down too, in order to rest and recuperate.
The ideal scenario is to have a balance between sitting and standing whilst at work, but the longer you're standing comfortably the better the benefits are to your health.
Stand up at your desk to get fit. Use a mat to make standing more comfortable.
A 'stand up mat' is a cushioned mat you can stand on whilst working at your desk. This makes standing up more comfortable, therefore enabling you to stand for longer periods in your work. The mat helps stimulate blood circulation in your feet and legs, which helps to prevent the onset of aches and stiffness whilst helping you to burn even more calories during the day.
View our range of stand up mats on the Mats4U website and help yourself get fit at work. Alternatively call one of our advisors on 0121 313 6748 during normal UK office hours.
