For decades, sitting at the desk has been a norm. But, thanks to science & research, we now know that sedentary behaviour causes a host of wealth and wellness problems-from poor circulation to premature spinal disc degeneration - and is detrimental to our long term well-being.

An estimated 70% of the US workforce sits in offices each day and the average American spends around 95% of the workday seated. In 2012,the Mayo Clinic reported that between 50% and 70% of Americans spend six or more hours a day in sedentary postures, while a 2012 study by scientists from 2 Universities found that anyone who spends large portion of time sitting would ’benefit greatly’  from increasing their daily movement.

Recent reports have also linked long periods of sitting with obesity and metabolic syndrome, which includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels. Too much sitting also seems to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.

As an alternative standing up to work suddenly sounds appealing, but long-term standing comes with a fresh crop of problems, like swelling and discomfort, and requires 20% more energy than sitting. Many people are switching to standing desks, but standing all day isn’t the answer, either! Research has linked health risks with both sitting and standing for prolonged periods. We need movement, and more of it. Researchers recommend factoring more breaks into the workday and striking a balance between seated and standing positions.

Researchers suggest standing for 15 minutes every hour boosts circulation, takes pressure off the spine and balances muscle use. Rebooting the body and mind regularly also enhances productivity and reduces fatigue

Switching between seated and standing postures throughout the day is not only good for energy and productivity, but for overall health. Researchers suggest standing for 15 minutes every hour boosts circulation, takes pressure off the spine and balances muscle use. Rebooting the body and mind regularly also enhances productivity and reduces fatigue. Alternating between sitting and standing postures is good for our waistlines, too, with an earlier Mayo Clinic study finding that it was possible to burn an additional 320 calories per day by spending two hours standing instead of sitting.
Building a Sit/Stand Workstation for the Modern Workplace

Employers in India are now gradually warming up to the idea of installing Sit/Stand workstations at workplace as they are beginning to see financial benefits through substantial enhancement of productivity as a direct result of the increasing well-being of their employees.

Knowing where to start with Sit/Stand can daunting, but incorporating Sit/Stand workstations into your office environment doesn’t need to mean overhauling your entire space. For those seeking a completely new work surface, one can go in for a standing office desk. Ease of use is at the heart these standing office desks, as it seamlessly adjusts between sitting and standing postures without interrupting workflow. Those with established work surfaces can easily transform their desks with the height-adjustable desktop stations. The station simply clamps to any fixed-height existing workstation so users can stay active, encouraging them to raise or lower the platform throughout the day for Sit/Stand.

Employees today want to work in environments that support and encourage a comfortable , active work space. Sit/Stand workstations are enticing to staff, and, far from being the latest office gimmicks, they are the way of the future.

The writer is Country Manager India of Humanscale, a company that deals in Office Ergonomics