Workplaces are now accustomed to an alternative, ergonomic way to do your work. In offices or home offices where employees are prone to sitting at their desk for hours, Sit-Stand Workstations are now being introduced to reduce the effects of prolonged sitting. These workstations do come in variations, either as a table-top addition to a present desk or full desks that can change in heights, all to reduce the strain that the body takes from hours of work. These workstations have been around for several years, but only more recently are workplaces taking advantage of this alternative. But just how good are they?
A 2016 study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine was done to assess the benefit of Sit-Stand Workstations. The study enrolled forty-six (46) university employees who were already experiencing low back pain, which is a common ailment for desk workers. Of the participants, some were randomly chosen to benefit from a Sit-Stand workstation and others were not, in order to see if there was any real difference to using one. They were monitored over a 3-month period and each participant filled out a survey based on their pain at multiple times throughout the study. The results of the study showed that participants who were given a Sit-Stand Workstation reported a SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION in low back pain over time. Therefore, chronic low back pain may be improved by the introduction of a
Sit-Stand Workstation in an office environment. In the end, 78% of participants using the Sit-Stand Workstations reported a pain-free day by the conclusion of the study.
Low back pain has become the most common cause of job-related disability. In North America, the estimated cost on healthcare, plus the cost of lost income and poor job productivity add up to about $85 billion. So there is a huge need for strategies to reduce the occurrence of low back pain. Additionally, participants using the sit-stand workstations reported that the reduction of their pain allowed them to focus and concentrate more at work.
You deserve to be at your best in all areas of your life and that includes your work as well. Sit-Stand Workstations have become a great strategy to reduce the effects of prolonged posture on your spine and in turn your function. Lower back pain, and any other pain for that matter, is a warning from your body that it can’t handle your everyday stresses. It’s time to make the necessary changes that are taking away from your potential to live and function at your best.Â
Dr. Alexander Pacis, DC, is a partner at the Active Family Chiropractic & Wellness Centre. www.wellnesschiropractor.com
