Miami Valley Steel Service is committed to the health of our team and we’re always looking for ways to make our workplace more health conscious. We give our employees access to our in house gym, and even arranged for a 9 hole disc golf course around the plant. Because of this commitment to fitness we’ve recently offered stand-up desks to our team!
The health benefits of stand up desks are numerous, but include:
Reducing the Risk of Chronic Disease
Studies have found that prolonged periods of sitting contributes to a number of ailments, including cancer, diabetes, strokes, and even a 150% increase in the chance of heart disease. As far back as the 1950s scientists have told us that standing is remarkably better for your health. New research shows that even an hour-long workout isn’t enough to make up for the negative effects of a whole day spent sitting stationary. Standing desks help get our team up out of the chair and on their feet!
Reduce Back Pain
Most people who’ve worked at a desk can testify that back pain is a common complaint. Standing at your desk drastically improves posture and can go a long way towards alleviating those aches and pains. In a CDC study researchers found that workers who used a standing desk reduced their back and neck pains by up to 54% within the first 4 weeks.
While working at a standing desk can help build your core strength and work your abdominal muscles, It’s important to remember to take a break if you start to feel tired as slouching or leaning can have negative benefits on the perfect posture you’re building!
Improve Mood and Energy
Using a standing desk to work can cause your body to release endorphins, giving you a natural sense of happiness. This improvement in overall mood can also boost your energy levels, and studies have proven that stress and fatigue are lower in people who work at standing desks. Furthermore, 90% of participants in the study also reported an increase in energy levels throughout the day. Not only is this better for overall mood, but it also increases productivity.
Fights Weight Gain
While standing alone isn’t exercise, it does burn more calories than sitting stationary. A study published by the National Institute of Health shows that over the course of the week a standing desk user could burn an extra 1,000 calories. Researcher Dr. John Buckley concludes that this “would be the equivalent of running about 10 marathons a year. Just by standing up three or four hours in your day at work.”
With these clear benefits we’re happy to help our team get out of their chairs and and onto the feet, because after all…Miami Valley Steel stands for better health and fitness!