Ergonomic Links Roundup: July 17th, 2012

We are fortunate enough to truly love what we do. Part of that passion means following what people are talking about around the web in terms of ergonomics, adjustable-height desks, and other healthy working topics. Below are links to some of the things we're thinking about this week:

• Bloomberg has become an unexpected proponent of standing desks and alternative workstations. This week their website features a new study (yes, another one) that concludes sitting less will add two years to your life expectancy:

The researchers pooled data from five studies that involved almost 167,000 adults. They combined the data with figures from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was used to determine how much time U.S. adults spent sitting and watching TV. Americans watch an average of five hours of TV a day, according to a June 2011 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The analysis found that sitting less would reduce premature deaths by 27 percent in the U.S., while spending fewer hours in front of the TV may reduce it by 19 percent, Katzmarzyk said.

• Bloomberg Businessweek also made a splash last week with their feature article Kill Your Desk Chair. We don’t see just sitting or just standing as the answer to being stuck behind a desk all day, but that a combination of the two is the healthiest option. If you were looking to make the most dramatic impact to your workstation, replacing your desk would be the first step. Next step would be to find a sit-stand chair that encourages you to move. From Bloomberg:

Like the proponents of macrobiotics and barefoot running, today’s antisitting crusaders argue that our modern lifestyle—with its roughage-free processed foods, foam-cushioned shoes, Barcaloungers, and swivel chairs—has, by cosseting the body, actually caused it to break down. When we sit our muscles atrophy, our back crimps, and our metabolism slows. As James Levine, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist, has written, “[A] growing body of evidence suggests that chair-living is lethal. Of concern is that for most people in the developed world chair-living is the norm.”

• Mashable posted a link to a very convincing Infograhic that talks about the dangers of sitting all day. One resonant fact: Americans burn 140 fewer calories a day than they did 50 years ago. You can see the Infographic by clicking here.

• Lifehacker receives tons of great questions from readers weekly. This week they tackle how to ask your boss to consider an adjustable-height workstation. Not sticking out in an office environment is something that our clients take seriously, and Lifehacker touches on it:

If perception is an issue, offer to work with your boss so you can stand, but you're standing somewhere that doesn't draw attention or too many questions (you'd be surprised how often great ideas in workspace changes get nixed because managers are "worried about the way it looks to others.")

• Kickstarter is one of the best places to find new and innovative ideas to solve common problems. It looks like individuals are taking standing desks into their own hands. We like the idea of being able to move your entire desk top to avoid unnecessary strain on your back and shoulders, but some of these ideas are pretty neat.

See something online that we should know about? Send us a Tweet @ergodepot