Is a Standing Desk Better for Your Posture and Health

I've been sitting at a desk for 10 hours a day lately and my lower back is absolutely killing me. I'm seeing all these adverts for standing desks. Are they actually better for your posture, or is it just a bit of a fad? I'd love to hear from people who actually use one daily.

Funny you should ask! I got one for my flat in London about six months ago. At first, my feet ached like anything, but now I wouldn't go back. It definitely forces you to engage your core more than just slouching in a swivel chair.

I'm in Toronto and we have them at the office. Honestly, I think the 'standing all day' thing is a bit of a myth. If I stand for more than two hours, my knees start to bother me. The real benefit is being able to switch back and forth.

@MapleLeafFan is spot on. It's not about standing all day; it's about movement. If you stand perfectly still for 8 hours, that's just as bad as sitting still. I try to switch positions every 45 minutes or so.

I've been looking at the price of them here in the UK and some are nearly £500! Is there a cheaper way to trial it? I don't want to spend a fortune if I end up just sitting at it anyway.

@NorthernLass You can get those desk converters that sit on top of your existing table. Much cheaper than a full motorized desk. I used one of those for a year before committing to a full height-adjustable one.

Wait, so do you guys use an anti-fatigue mat? I heard those make a big difference if you have hard floors.

Absolutely essential. Standing on a thin carpet or hardwood for hours is a nightmare for your heels. I bought a squishy mat and it's like standing on a cloud. Highly recommend.

I actually disagree slightly—I prefer standing in good quality trainers (sneakers for you Americans lol) rather than just socks on a mat. It gives my arches better support.

Good point on the shoes. I usually work in my slippers at home, which probably explains why my back feels like a pretzel.

Does it actually help with calorie burn? I read somewhere that standing burns way more than sitting, but that sounds like marketing fluff to me.

It's negligible, honestly. Maybe 15-20 extra calories an hour. It's more about blood flow and avoiding that 'slumped' posture that closes off your chest and tightens your hip flexors.

Totally agree!

So if I get one, how should I start? Just stand until I can't anymore? or set a timer?

Start slow, mate. Do 20 minutes standing, 40 minutes sitting for the first week. If you try to stand all day right away, your lower back will seize up and you'll hate the desk within 48 hours.

I've just ordered a basic converter off Amazon. Fingers crossed it doesn't wobble too much when I'm typing. That's my biggest worry with the cheap ones.

Make sure your monitor height is right too. When standing, the top of the screen should be at eye level. If you're looking down while standing, you're just trading one posture problem for another.

One thing nobody mentions is that it makes you more productive. I find I'm much more 'on it' when I'm standing. I do my focused work standing and my emails/admin sitting.

That's interesting. I usually just feel tired when I stand too long. Maybe I need to work on my leg strength lol.

Does anyone else find they fidget more while standing? I'm constantly shifting my weight from one leg to the other. Not sure if that's good or bad.