How a Standing Desk Can Help Alleviate Back Pain
Today, most jobs require a lot of desk time, leaving you sitting in front of a computer or in meetings for long periods. Poor posture or even just being in a sitting position for too long can cause low back and neck pain.
Up to 90% more pressure is put on your back when you sit than when you stand. If you’re like most people, when you sit you usually do so in ways that create pressure or tension in the back or neck. It’s rare to find a person with excellent posture all the time when they sit down to eat, work or drive.
Standing desks–a way to alleviate back pain
Standing desks have been more and more popular recently, and for good reason. Using a standing desk and moving more throughout the day has been shown to improve back pain. Many who use a sit-stand desk relay that it has greatly alleviated their lower back pain. How does it do this? There are a couple of ways that this tool can help.
A standing desk takes the pressure off of your lower back
Sitting for prolonged periods of time can cause increased stress of the back, neck, arms and legs. On top of that, poor posture can put a tremendous amount of pressure on the lower back, especially the back muscles and spinal discs, and overstretch the spinal ligaments.
A standing desk takes the pressure off the back and allows you to ease the stress and impact that sitting can make on your spine, discs and ligaments. You can go back and forth between sitting and standing, which allows you to move more freely and change or relax the tension in your back muscles.
Moving and stretching on a regular basis throughout the day will help keep your muscles, ligaments and tendons loose, which in turn will help you feel more comfortable and relaxed. A standing desk allows for this much more than the usual set up with a sedentary chair and desk or table.
A standing desk can be adjusted to allow you to have optimal posture
A standing desk can allow your head, neck, and spine to be aligned. Adjust the desk so that your head is slightly back, your hips are facing straight ahead, and your spine is relaxed in the “S” curve. You should be able to rest your wrists flat on the desk with your elbows at a 90-degree angle from your body. Your monitor should be at or below your eye level.
Get a consultation for back pain
Long Island Spine Specialists offers spine surgery and interventional pain management. A consultation is an opportunity to discuss back or neck symptoms with a provider. To request an appointment, call (631) 837-2359 or use the “Get a Spinal Assessment” button below.