Use These Techniques To Avoid A Back Injury From Using A Standing Desk

10 January 2018
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Standing desks are becoming increasingly common in the workforce, which means that you might encounter this office arrangement at some point in the near future. There are many reasons that people opt to use standing desks, but the chief benefit is that sitting for prolonged periods can be detrimental to your health in numerous ways — including giving you back pain. However, using a standing desk doesn't automatically eliminate the risk of getting a sore back at work, so it's important that you take a careful approach to dealing with this arrangements. Here are some techniques that you can use to avoid a back injury.

Continue To Focus On Moving

When you sit all day, you might often hear that you should make regular movements a priority. Some people set their smartphone alarm to offer a notification every 30 minutes, for example, which will compel them to get up and take a quick walk around the office. When you're using a standing desk, the lack of sitting doesn't mean that you should remain immobile. It's still important to get regular movement, as even standing in the same spot for a long period of time can lead to back pain.

Ensure That The Height Is Appropriate

Just as it's often necessary to adjust the height of your office chair to suit your own height, you shouldn't hesitate to make adjustments to the height of your standing desk. Commonly, standing desks are adjustable, and this means that you can easily raise or lower the desk to accommodate you. When you use a standing desk, you shouldn't have to hunch forward or stand more upright than feels natural — in either case, you may end up getting a sore back. You should endeavor to set the standing desk so that seeing the monitor and using the keyboard and mouse feel natural when you're standing in a natural position.

Tighten Your Core

While you don't want to hold your body tense as you stand at your desk throughout the workday, it's beneficial to be mindful of your core muscles. Engaging them to even a slight degree is beneficial for preventing your back from sagging unnaturally. When you tighten your core muscles a little, you'll notice that you're keeping your back in more of a natural position, and this will be pivotal in keeping back pain at bay from the start of your workday through its conclusion.

To learn more, contact a professional like Refkin Joseph P DC