Does the thought of using a sit-to-stand desk confuse you, and keep you working at your dining room table?

If so, you are not alone. The market abounds with sit-to-stand desk possibilities. This makes it difficult - if not impossible - to figure out if or how such a desk might actually help you do your best work, without stress or pain, and with an alert and refreshed focus.

Let’s dispel a few myths.

1 - Even the best in class ergonomic furniture cannot make up for the fact that you are sedentary all day long.

We all have our reasons for considering a sit-to-stand desk. For some, the lure is about lowering one’s risk for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, or heart disease.

The key here is to actually use the desk as intended. This means that changing your position from sitting to standing and back again - frequently throughout the day - is a must.

Moving from sitting to standing will get you up off the seat, burning many more calories than remaining still for the same period of time. It also gives you the chance to use your muscles for movement, which tones them and helps alleviate stiffness.

For the above reasons, learning how to adjust the desk, plus establishing and sticking with a sit-to-stand schedule, is a skill and a habit that may yield tremendous preventative health benefits over the long term.

Research has begun to focus on the optimal duration for both sitting and standing bouts. While there’s not much data on this yet, all indications point to approximately equal time spent in sitting and standing as a best practice. The recommended times range from 14 - 40 minutes.

Let low back, neck, shoulder, arm and wrist comfort inform you as to when to change positions.

The ability to position the monitor and keyboard at exactly the right levels is another reason people consider sit-to-stand desks. The promise here is comfortable computing and improved posture.

Don’t underestimate this sense of comfort you feel when you adjust your workstation items! Physical comfort at the desk is a key sign that you’re protecting your structures from overuse injuries and musculoskeletal conditions that may arise because you stay in one position for most of the day.

2 - Not all sit-to-stand desks are designed equally.

Just because it’s a sit-to-stand desk doesn’t mean it can deliver the height you need for proper posture and comfortable computing. I learned this while shopping for my sit-to-stand desk at the beginning of the pandemic.

Like anyone who wants to take full advantage of what they pay good money for, I needed my desk to support me properly and ergonomically in both sitting and standing positions.

You see, standing ergonomics is just as posture-impactful as sitting. And the height of the workstation is where it all starts.

During my shopping time, I was careful to research the exact height range available for the models I was considering, as this number varies between manufacturers. I then compared my findings to my specific needs for workstation height both in sitting and standing.

Once I honed in on the final desk contenders, I found I was able to set up my monitor, keyboard and other peripherals properly for sitting height fairly easily, but none of the available standing levels went high enough. Luckily, one manufacturer offered an extended height add-on that was tall enough for my needs.

All this to say that buying a sit-to-stand desk and getting it right - so you can reap the benefits - is a process. The process involves research and knowing your needs.

3 - Consider NOT getting a desk converter.

Many people ask me about desk converters. These are the “contraptions” that sit on top of a regular desk. They are adjustable up to a point.

Converters tend to excel at extending the height of the desk, but for most people they’re not helpful for establishing proper sitting ergonomics.

For a couple of reasons, I don’t recommend desk converters.

First, they will make the sitting height too high for all but the tallest people. This may bring on tension or pain in neck, shoulders, arms, wrists and hands.

Second, some people find that adjusting desk converters is difficult to achieve, and hard on the low back, as well. If you’re anything like me, you don’t want to hurt yourself while in the process of preventing pain and injury!

The most important thing to remember about using a sit-to-stand desk - or a chair for that matter - to your best advantage, is that your body still needs to move regularly throughout the day.

Movement is one way our bodies and minds maintain good health. A typical workstation set up just cannot give that to you. You have to do it for yourself.

Anne Asher is a Workstation Wellness expert and Personal Trainer specializing in skillful movement for chronic pain release. You can reach her at: posturally.com.

We all know the impacts that plastics have on our everyday life, the convenience they provide makes it hard to give up.

Our newsletter will get you up to speed on news, events & more

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

Have the latest local news delivered each week so you don't miss out on updates.

We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!