Thinking About a Sit-Stand Desk? Here are 6 Things to Consider Before Purchasing one.

Dr. Nikki Weiner OTD, OTR/L, AOEAS

It’s true that standing is a catalyst for more movement during the workday, which has proven health benefits. I am all for standing during the day if it works for you and meets your individual needs. It’s also OK to not have a standing workstation as long as you are moving enough during the day and working from a seated position that is ergonomic.

However, if you are experiencing discomfort or fatigue with prolonged sitting or if your job requires essentially all working time to be at the desk, you might consider investing in a sit-stand desk to enhance well-being at work. Research has shown that standing more during the workday not only increases caloric burn and improves circulation, sit-stand desks also have a return on investment of 1-2 years purely related to productivity.

On the other hand, if the idea of a sit-stand desk intimidates you or if you are on your feet for other aspects of your work, you will probably never use it. And that’s OK.

Narrowing the search on the right sit-stand desk is a daunting task. There are so many retailers, makes, models, and product features to consider.

Asking yourself the following 6 questions should help you get started:

1. Riser or desk?

A riser is typically less expensive than a sit-stand desk, but you should think about how a riser will limit the working desk area, which can impact your work-flow and force you into awkward postures when doing tasks like referencing documents or accessing items at the desk such as a phone.

On the other hand, a sit-stand desk usually lacks storage, so you might need to purchase an under desk file cabinet—adding more cost to the overall investment.

If you strictly interact with a computer during the workday, and not a lot of other items like documents or accessories, a riser might be an OK option for you. If not opt, for the whole desk.

2. Manual or electric?

I prefer electric because most manual models can be difficult to adjust when weighted with monitors and technology. Ease of adjustment encourages proper use, but it is true you can save some cash with a manual riser. Not all manual models are created equal. If manual is your choice, look for gas-assisted models like the LifeFlo Clarity and practice adjusting it using an ergonomic lifting technique.

If it suits your budget, electric models would save you from the hassle of awkward adjustment and many electric models are programmable for your ideal working heights as an added bonus (see next section). Electric is also the safest option for people with existing musculoskeletal problems like back or neck pain.

3. What height range will suit me?

This is important! Before you purchase a sit-stand desk, you need to measure your seated and standing elbow height. Next, look at the height range of the sit-stand desk. If you are VERY tall, your desk might not accommodate a comfortable standing position and if you are AVERAGE height or shorter, the desk might not accommodate a comfortable sitting position.

Since you are purchasing the desk to work more ergonomically and to reap its health benefits, then you should use it at the correct heights to achieve the neutral posture. This means the working area (i.e. mouse and keyboard) are about elbow level or slightly below, which allows you to work with arms relaxed at your side.

Some desks and nearly all risers only lower to standard desk height. For example, I am 5’7” and my seated elbow height is about 27 inches, so if I used a riser or electric sit-stand that only lowers to 28 or 29 inches, I would be looking to purchase more accessories- either a foot rest or keyboard tray to achieve an ergonomic position.

4. What other accessories will I need?

At the very least, an anti-fatigue mat.

I always recommend a high quality anti-fatigue mat for standing to lessen impact of the hard floor on your spinal discs. If you are standing on a typical office floor, which is low pile carpet over cement, you are likely to experience discomfort from standing. The best anti-fatigue mats have a mechanism that allows you to slide the mat in and out from under the desk using your foot. If the mat is easy to access, you’ll be more likely to use it, and bending over to drag the mat out from under your desk during every sit-stand transition is no way to protect your back.

As mentioned in previous sections, working at a proper seated desk height might cause your feet to dangle or arms to excessively reach. Furthermore, monitor height will likely need adjusting in the sit to stand transition. If the goal of using a sit-stand desk is to work more ergonomically, you should take a careful look at the overall set up and need for accessories, and when in doubt—ask a professional like me!

5. Now that I have a sit-stand desk, how should I start using it?

Ease into it. General consensus is that you should sit more than you stand. The best position is the next position, and sitting is not better than standing is not better than sitting.

Cornell University, a leader in ergonomic research, says 2 hours of standing, 5 hours of sitting, and 16 sit-to-stand transitions.

My personal opinion, is that this question has to be determined by the individual because ergonomics is not one size-fits-all. An active or athletic person in their twenties may tolerate standing more than someone of advanced age or with a chronic health problem. You must listen to your body-- stand when it feels good and sit when it feels good, change positions regularly, and do it as tolerated. Don’t push yourself to impress your co-workers.

6. Will my employer pay for it?

Maybe.

Employers sometimes furnish these types of desks per request or as a workplace accommodation for people who have reported a specific disability, with supported medical documentation, that interferes with their ability to do their work (under Title 1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act). Or, your employer might just be really cool about it. It doesn’t hurt to ask, and you should start a conversation about it anyway “Hey, is it OK if I purchase and install my own sit-stand desk in my office, I think it might help keep me more productive and less fatigued during the day….”

Conclusion

The last thing I should mention is that the biggest failure of the sit stand desk trend, is that most people do not use them correctly or ergonomically, which really defeats the whole purpose. You can still very much experience a work related musculoskeletal disorder while using a sit-stand desk. In other words, I am glad that you read this article, but it is not enough! Do some personal research on how to use the desk ergonomically from trusted sources (OSHA.gov, the Back School of Atlanta, Cornell University Ergonomics web), or contact your friendly ergonomist today (me.)

Have more questions about sit-stand desks? I’m here to answer them. You can contact me at nikkiw@risingworkplace.com