Why a Standing Desk Won’t Solve All Your Ergonomic Problems


It’s true. You can have too much of a good thing. Take for example carrots, water or exercise. We can agree that each of these three things are very good for you. But, did you know that if you eat too many carrots your skin could become discolored from too much beta-carotene? Likewise, drinking too much water can cause a dilution of sodium in your blood creating an electrolyte imbalance and too much exercise can harm the effectiveness of your immune system and muscle recovery as well as increase fatigue.

The same is true for standing desks. While there is no denying the health, productivity, and comfort benefits of using standing desks, too much standing can be a bad thing for your health.

Now don’t get us wrong, we think standing desks have some great ergonomic benefits. In fact, we have several in our corporate office. The problem though, is that the rise of standing desks (pun intended) has many thinking about ergonomic solutions from the waist up while failing to consider equipment to support the lower half of the worker’s body.

The reality is, prolonged activity whether it is sitting or standing walking or running, takes a toll on the lower half of your body. After all, our feet, ankles, knees, and hips support the weight of our entire body.

So, now you must be wondering what ergonomic solutions are out there to support your lower half. Fortunately for you, we love helping people feel good. Below we have gathered several ergonomic products you can invest in to help keep your lower half comfortable.

Leg and Foot Rests
During extended periods of sitting, blood can pool in your feet and legs causing swelling due to poor circulation. An easy way to remedy this is by investing in leg and foot rests. The ideal foot rest will keep your legs from dangling and encourage circulation.

The Right Chair Cushion
Whether you have a height-adjustable desk or a regular desk, chances are you spend some time sitting during the day and it’s likely that the stock chair cushion is not very comfortable. Several companies make aftermarket cushions that are ergonomically designed to alleviate pain and numbness, while encouraging air flow and circulation.

Compression Socks
We know, we know. Compression socks have historically been used by the elderly but recently there has been an influx of compression sock use in younger generations. This is especially true for people in professions that require extended amounts of standing and walking. So, what do they do? They prevent swelling and improve circulation.

SmartCells Anti-Fatigue Products
Available in mats, insoles and custom flooring, the SmartCells line of Anti-fatigue products are ergonomically engineered to help you feel great, and meet your health, safety and productivity needs.

The unique SmartCells Cushioning Technology consists of a rubber surface layer integrated with an underlying array of cylindrical rubber cells that soften in response to surface pressure to provide maximum fatigue relief. The SmartCells act like springs that cushion as weight is applied and then rebound when the weight shifts, which returns energy, providing an unparalleled responsiveness that helps reduce standing/walking fatigue.

Learn more about how SmartCells can be incorporated into your workplace at http://bit.ly/scindustrialwork .