I built a lay-down desk • Hacker News Board

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#31

Post by mtalantikite » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 2:12 PM UTC

melling wrote: post #23

diegocg wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The worst potential consequence of laying down is that your back muscles would become weaker. This is one of the reasons why sitting harms your back, and with laying down it would be even worse. Unless it's combined with some exercise it could be a really bad idea.

Are there good exercises for your back to offset sitting? Body weight exercises would be ideal.

Locust pose from yoga is phenomenal for back strength.

Edit: You probably also should focus on core work too. Try some forearm planks to start.

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#32

Post by msluyter » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 2:13 PM UTC

In college I had some back problems, so I improvised (an incredibly unwise) lay-down desk by putting my monitor face down on two chairs and just lying with my face underneath it. This was a heavy CRT, not a modern LCD monitor. (Did I mention this being incredibly unwise...?)

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#33

Post by christophergs » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 2:13 PM UTC

I've found the best lying down desk is a $300 mini-projector and a yoga mat. You project at the ceiling (so projector is above your head) and then put a wireless keyboard on your stomach, with mouse by your side. Alternate with a standing desk. Good after 10 years of jiu-jitsu and a knackered body

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#34

Post by andreareina » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 2:15 PM UTC

roland35 wrote: post #4

Once again the Onion predicted reality! https://www.theonion.com/more-office-workers-switching-to-fe...

There's a comic strip I can't find anymore that showed the progression of ergonomic work environments, ending with a workstation with the person leaning forward with their chest supported. Imagine someone on a sports bike, that's about what the position was.

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#35

Post by RankingMember » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 2:15 PM UTC

This is the kind of contraption you really need a partner/roommates/someone within screaming distance around to use safely.

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#36

Post by andreareina » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 2:16 PM UTC

Kudos for OP scratching their own itch, but I'm wary of anything that makes it easier to spend even more time not moving.

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#37

Post by jonpurdy » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 2:17 PM UTC

I was in the market for a desk and chair recently. Long story short: sitting at a floor table and on the couch all day was causing issues with my back and hamstrings.

I did look into the AltWork setup mentioned. At $7000 (or $4500 for manual option), it's quite expensive but not that bad if amortized over a 20 year period of working 8 hours a day. Investment in long-term health is worth it if the product works as it should and lasts the expected amount of time.

Aside from my wife not wanting it in our apartment (I understand), there isn't enough evidence that zero gravity workstations improve health versus just a good ergonomic chair (ie. an adjustable chair that fits your body) and desk (adjustable and gets low enough to support 90° elbow angle without hitting your legs). In all cases, one needs to take breaks to stretch and move around, not to mention daily exercise.

Went with a HM Embody (armless) chair and IKEA Skarsta hand crank desk instead; zero regrets and I wish I got them earlier (especially the Embody)!

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#38

Post by amelius » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 2:18 PM UTC

zoba wrote: post #5

A friend once said “There’s all these studies about how bad sitting is for you. Now there are even studies about how bad standing desks are for you. Nobody ever says anything bad about laying down so I just try to do that as much as possible.” I still laugh. Perhaps true in part though.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_atrophy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressure_ulcer

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#39

Post by skye-adaire » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 2:19 PM UTC

Why reinvent the bed? All you need for a lay down desk is a 12 inch orthopedic foam wedge and a laptop tray. Both readily available in Amazon. I've been working this way for years.

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#40

Post by faichai » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 2:20 PM UTC

melling wrote: post #23

diegocg wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The worst potential consequence of laying down is that your back muscles would become weaker. This is one of the reasons why sitting harms your back, and with laying down it would be even worse. Unless it's combined with some exercise it could be a really bad idea.

Are there good exercises for your back to offset sitting? Body weight exercises would be ideal.

Not body weight, but deadlifts are a good counteraction. Glutes, lower back and upper back all come into play.