Should I Get a Sit-to-Stand Desk? - Recommendations from a Massage Therapist

Office workers, this one’s for you!

This question comes up a lot during treatments and we figured it was time to address it for everyone. It is true that sitting for extended periods can wreak havoc on our bodies and unfortunately a lot of us must do that for work, so it is kind of unavoidable. The idea of a sit-to-stand desk sounds like an easy solution for your back and neck pain. Yes, standing is overall better than sitting. However, standing stationary for long periods of time can also be hard on our bodies (we see a lot of patients seeking treatment because they are sore from being on their feet all day). The key to remember is MOTION IS LOTION! Our bodies love to move and be active. We were not built to remain stationary for such long periods. Of course, that doesn’t help people who must sit for work. So what can you do?

1.        How to Get Your Body Moving During Your Workday:

If you feel that getting a sit-to-stand desk would help you get up and move a little, then definitely grab one! However, first we would recommend that you work in what we like to call ‘movement breaks’. Consider setting a timer for 60 min and when it goes off take 2 minutes and walk around the office, climb a flight of stairs or do some stretches at your desk (see below). And then when you sit back down, start the timer again. This will help to loosen up your body and may even help you concentrate better! If you do get a sit-to-stand desk, make sure that you are alternating between sitting and standing throughout the day and not remaining stationary in one position.

Here are some stretches you can do at your desk:

2.        Get Regular Massages to Help You Feel Your Best!

While keeping your body moving can do wonders for getting you through your workday pain-free, sometimes we need a little help to help us feel our best. That’s where our Registered Massage Therapists come in! Our RMT’s are trained to treat soft-tissue structures to help relieve pain and tension. They can also recommend personalized stretches and exercises to help you maintain your health. We often recommend coming in every 1-2 months for treatments if you suffer from chronic neck and back pain from desk work. However, your Massage Therapist will recommend a treatment plan specific to you! (Acupuncture and Chiropractic care are also great adjuncts to massage therapy to help you achieve optimal well-being – at LoLo Wellness in Lower Lonsdale we have it all!)

Remember to always discuss with your healthcare professional for advice specific to you! These exercises/stretches should be pain free and feel nice on the body. If this is not the case, please discuss with your healthcare professional before continuing.

Here at LoLo Wellness, we aim to provide personalized recommendations and treatments to help you get through your workday pain-free. Come by our North Vancouver Lower Lonsdale location and see our massage therapists to get you feeling your best!