Question
For prolonged office work or study, is standing better for your health than sitting?
Answer
Mostly yes.
Explanation
There are five main options:
- Sitting only
- Standing only
- Using a sit-stand height-adjustable desk
- Using a treadmill desk
- Mixing sitting with moving around regularly
Studies largely conclude that working at a standing desk inhibits musculoskeletal problems and decreases fatigue and tension, while not significantly impacting productivity or performance. However, some studies see greater fatigue and discomfort and a degradation in attention and executive function. For the most part, this effect appears to be attributable to using a standing desk exclusively. A sit-stand desk can alleviate some of the adverse effects, as can other methods of regularly changing posture.
Using a treadmill desk, meanwhile, had the greatest positive effect on physiological health, while also having the greatest negative effect on productivity and motor abilities.
Sources
Kang S.H., Lee J., and Jin S., Effect of standing desk use on cognitive performance and physical workload while engaged with high cognitive demand tasks., (Appl Ergon. 2021 Apr;92)
Konradt, U., et al., Beneficial, adverse, and spiraling health-promotion effects: Evidence from a longitudinal randomized controlled trial of working at sit–stand desks, (Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 25(1), 68–81)
MacEwen B.T., MacDonald D.J., and Burr J.F., A systematic review of standing and treadmill desks in the workplace, (Prev Med. 2015 Jan;70:50-8)
Reiff C., Marlatt K., Dengel D.R., Difference in caloric expenditure in sitting versus standing desks, (J Phys Act Health. 2012 Sep;9(7):1009-11)
Schwartz B., et al., Medium-term effects of a two-desk sit/stand workstation on cognitive performance and workload for healthy people performing sedentary work: a secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial, (Ergonomics. 2019 Jun;62(6):794-810)