Should you work at a standing desk?

There are several arguments in favor. Since standing makes the heart work harder, proponents say it improves cardiovascular health, increases alertness, and reduces fatigue. Physical therapists claim that standing also improves posture, which reduces lower back pain. Some studies even suggest that workers who stand have less stress and are happier than those who sit.

Dozens of studies have been conducted on the potential health effects of sitting-standing desks. A recent review, led by María Eugenia Visier-Alfonso at the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain and published in BMC Public Health in May, selected 17 for review.

Dr. Visier-Alfonso limited her analysis to those that focused primarily on college students. Of the four studies that examined mental health, three confirmed that using sit-stand desks reduced anxiety and improved mood.

However, of the four studies on back pain, only one showed a significant reduction in pain among sit-stand desk users compared to control groups.

The only study Dr. Visier-Alfonso found that looked at the cardiovascular and metabolic benefits of sit-stand desks suggested that they do, in fact, result in lower blood pressure in users.

Studies conducted on more diverse groups reach different conclusions. A comprehensive review of more than 50 articles on the use of sit-stand desks, led by April Chambers at the University of Pittsburgh and published in Applied Ergonomics in 2019, found only weak evidence that their use improves cardiovascular health.

The heart rates of sit-stand desk users were on average 7.5 to 13.7 beats per minute faster than those of people using regular desks, indicating they may be working harder. But studies examining the issue found no notable differences in blood pressure or VO2 (the efficiency with which the body delivers oxygen to the muscles).

Analysis of other health-related biomarkers, such as glucose, insulin, and cholesterol, also showed no differences in most studies. This suggests that desks were not providing metabolic benefits that could, for example, prevent diseases like type 2 diabetes.

Improvements in energy and attention levels among those who used adjustable desks were also difficult to detect. Furthermore, Dr. Chambers found no evidence that their use influenced mood.

However, notable benefits emerged in the area of ​​lower back pain. Of 17 papers studying this issue, eight found evidence that offering participants the option to stand significantly reduced their lower back pain (the remaining nine showed no clear effect).

This suggests that standing may help some people with this condition, an effect that may be more noticeable among people older than college age.

So what can the afflicted desk worker do? Both reviews agree that there is no significant harm associated with using sit-stand desks. And while some of the differences between their conclusions may be due to chance or sample size, it's also possible that different benefits accrue to users of different ages.