Working at a standing desk is a big change for most people, and it puts your body through a lot. One of the secrets to making this transition smoother and ensuring it sticks is getting the right ergonomic accessories designed to make standing at height adjustable standing desks more comfortable and easier on your body. They increase comfort during the transition, increasing the chances you’ll stick with the change and begin to enjoy the benefits of standing more at work sooner.
Most people experience the majority of their discomfort in their feet, ankles, knees, and lower back when they adjust to standing and a standing desk. This results from tightness in the tendons, a lack of muscular development, and the effect of your body’s weight and the hardness of the floor. There are a number of different ergonomic accessories that address these issues in a variety of ways. The first approach is to lessen the impact of the ground on your body. Anti-fatigue mats are the first option of many on this front, and they are ideal for their ability to literally absorb hardness. They decrease fatigue to your joints and muscles so standing is not so tiring. They are especially helpful if you have preexisting aches in your feet and knees.
Tightness in the leg muscles and lower back is another common problem that relates to the former issue. One of the best ways to address this is by stretching, and a foam roller is an innovative way to integrate comfort and stretching into your workplace. These hard “tubes” of foam come in a range of sizes and shapes, but as long as they are about four to six inches in diameter and fit conveniently under your desk, they are perfect. You can use this as a foot stool to make standing on one leg more comfortable, especially if you like to shift your weight. More importantly, by resting weight on the roller and moving your foot around, you stretch the tendons in your foot and lower leg, which leads to better general flexibility as well as helps alleviate tenderness in the feet.
Moving up the body, soreness and achy muscles in the lower back are usually a symptom of general muscle fatigue that results from either poor posture or just weak muscles. Time will solve the problem if it’s the latter. If you have a problem with posture, focusing on it and wearing better shoes are the best solutions. However, a foot stool can be a useful aid because it helps you relax the hip joints and thus straighten your spine. This shifts the pressure, which decreases muscle fatigue.
One final ergonomic accessory worth considering is an effective organizer that you can reach while standing at your desk. Many people find that they get more sore in their shoulders from reaching farther to access papers and other things that would normally be within reach. Taller organizers that fit under a standing desk are a great solution for this because they minimize repeated reaching, taking the strain off your shoulders.
A standing desk will change you how feel and make you healthier, but the transition to this comfort can be rough. The right ergonomic accessories can make it easier and healthier if you pay attention to your body.
