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It’s well known that sitting for long periods of time can have negative health consequences. And while standing desks are one way to mitigate the problem, they only work if you use them correctly.

We spoke to Dr. Waj Hoda, a chiropractor with Toronto health clinic Totum Life Science, to learn how to set up and use a standing desk for maximum benefit.

On your feet

Sitting for long periods is undoubtedly bad for your health: it’s been linked to neck and back pain, obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and even cancer. One study cited by the Mayo Clinic found that people who routinely sit without moving for four or more hours have a 50% higher risk of death from all causes, and more than twice the risk of heart attack, compared to people who seldom sit for more than two hours at a time.

Even vigorous exercise at the end of the day can’t completely undo the damage from sitting for hours. Fortunately, there is a simple solution: move. Constantly.

“Ergonomically, the best thing you can do is keep moving,” Hoda says. “Changing positions is a healthy thing,” and the primary benefit of a standing desk is that it allows you to do just that. It shouldn’t completely replace sitting, but it can break the pattern of sitting for long intervals.

To read the full article, click here.