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Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

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51–60 of 174 posts

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#51
A couple years ago my co-worker and I each built the $22 IKEA standing desk from iamnotaprogrammer.com[1]. We also each got a nice standing mat and stool (about $100 each), and I got a monitor mount (about $50).

It's been excellent. I'd say I spend about half my time standing and half sitting on the stool. For me, rather than losing focus when I'm standing, sometimes I'll just pace around my office a bit, which I've found helps me think a lot, and obviously helps keep the blood flowing and the muscles loose.

[1] http://iamnotaprogrammer.com/Ikea-Standing-desk-for-22-dolla...

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#52
I've been using a standing desk for about 2 years, and I definitely focus better while sitting - sometimes I'll even grab a random table to really pound things out, because perching on a high chair isn't quite the same.

But I like standing for dealing with random little things (email and other reaction mode type stuff), and the standing desk also makes it a lot easier to show people things on your screen when they walk over.

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#53
post #44
post #15

I can warmly recommend this book for treating back pain and posture problems: [1]. [1] Robin A. McKenzie, "Treat Your Own Back".

I will check that out. I just ordered Kelly Starret's The Supple Leopard which comes highly recommended.

Starret's book looks great, and it covers a LOT of information, but because of that it may not be suitable for everyone.

Otoh, the McKenzie book is very concise and gets you started almost immediately.

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#54

Standing hurts my lower back within 10 minutes. Probably a mobility issue. The pain is similar as if I try to do an overhead press. I have been squatting for 60 seconds twice a day. I should probably try hanging too. Any other ideas ?

Read this about APT: http://www.anteriorpelvictilthq.com/anterior-pelvic-tilt/, not saying you have it, but it's possible. I had back pain for a long time because I thought I was "standing up straight". Really I was arching my lower back really badly and it caused all the pain. Did the same thing when driving. Once I realized what it was, I was able to correct it and now the pain is not nearly as bad.

Hanging helped a little and so did the traction machine at the sports medicine doctor, aka Chiropractor. Things like that only helped until I got to the root of the problem.

I hope this helps in some way and your back gets better.

EDIT: Also, when you go to get something off the ground, go down to one knee instead of squatting down, that one was straight from the doctor and actually helped a lot.

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#55
post #46

Standing hurts my lower back within 10 minutes. Probably a mobility issue. The pain is similar as if I try to do an overhead press. I have been squatting for 60 seconds twice a day. I should probably try hanging too. Any other ideas ?

you might want to try a balance board. i've been meaning to get one myself - they apparently are good for low-back pains.

I've found that balance boards (on top of a tube) require too much concentration to balance. Instead I used a skateboard deck on a cushion[0] at my standing desk. You can adjust difficulty by adjusting the inflation of the cushion.

[0]: http://indoboard.com/cushion

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#56
I am getting a little lazy and am starting to sit down more again. Standing the whole day is also pretty hard on my knees. But it's nice to be able to mix it up.

In general I am getting more and more envious of people who have a job that allows them to move around a lot. Being in one place the whole day just plain sucks, be it sitting or standing.

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#57

Makes my lower back pain worse. I also can't get in the 'zone' as easily. I have a powered standing desk and sit at it 90-95% of the time.

I posted this to another commenter with back pain, maybe it can help you:

Read this about APT: http://www.anteriorpelvictilthq.com/anterior-pelvic-tilt/, not saying you have it, but it's possible. I had back pain for a long time because I thought I was "standing up straight". Really I was arching my lower back really badly and it caused all the pain. Did the same thing when driving. Once I realized what it was, I was able to correct it and now the pain is not nearly as bad.

Hanging helped a little and so did the traction machine at the sports medicine doctor, aka Chiropractor. Things like that only helped until I got to the root of the problem.

I hope this helps in some way and your back gets better.

EDIT: Also, when you go to get something off the ground, go down to one knee instead of squatting down, that one was straight from the doctor and actually helped a lot.

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#58
After my doctor prescribed a sit/stand desk, my work provided me a Varidesk accessory. I sit for one hour and stand for one hour according, following doctor's orders.

My focus is about the same from what I can tell, and I actually prefer to stand.

While standing I shift my weight and move my legs which, according to my doctor, is the point of sit/stand desks. They promote/accommodate physical activivty while working at a desk.

That said, my focus while in the office is very low overall because I work in an open office. So, whether sitting or standing, I have to deal with visual distractions and filter conversations with headphones and generated noise.

So like the OP, my body and health benefit enormously from sit/stand and if my concentration suffers, it is not to such a degree that it is noticeable due to other environmental factors.

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#59

Standing hurts my lower back within 10 minutes. Probably a mobility issue. The pain is similar as if I try to do an overhead press. I have been squatting for 60 seconds twice a day. I should probably try hanging too. Any other ideas ?

You might also try trigger point therapy in the low back & hip area. For what it's worth, I had a painful lower back for ~1 year, and one day I massaged the psoas muscle trigger points, and my back pain _disappeared_. I've been an evangelist for trigger point therapy since.
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