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Design, Research, Well-Being September 15, 2011

Get Up, Get Healthy:
Standing and Sitting by Design

By

A “new” trend is emerging among workers in Silicon Valley: the standing desk. We know sitting all day is not ideal for the human body. The low physical workload and rearward rotated pelvis puts you at risk for back pain. Not to mention, excessive sitting slows your metabolism and can even negatively affect cholesterol levels.
But the truth is, standing all day isn’t any better. In fact, the high workload placed on the body while standing is equally as harmful as the inactivity in sitting.
What the body wants is movement. Alternating from sitting to standing several times throughout the day reduces the chance of back pain and improves circulation. Both are essential to productivity.
The standing desk is far from a new concept. In the 1960s, designer George Nelson developed the first stand-up, roll-top desk for the Action Office line. We continue to encourage movement in all our furniture. Everywhere and Envelop tables enable multiple height-adjustments. Paired with a work chair, you can sit, stand, and move, all of which will help you feel better and work better.

Comments (3)

What, no mention of Levity (HMI/Holbrook award-winning product) in the late 90s? That was a very cool sit-to-stand solution, but pretty big and bulky. But it even moved around on casters. I always wished I had one . . .

It’s true I live in the Silicone Valley and most of my friends work at small start up companies and alternative seating i.e. exercise balls, standing desks, stools, and various new modifications are being tried as they build their companies from the ground up.

I have actually started creating a blog that addresses posture for health conscious techies in the valley here: http://powerofposture.blogspot.com/

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