Definition
A height-adjustable desk is a suitable addition to an ergonomic workplace, together with an ergonomic desk chair and computer equipment. It ensures that the user remains flexible while working and relieves muscles, ligaments and spine and prevents chronic diseases. These structures are often loaded on one side when sitting constantly, which means shortening of the muscles and permanent stress for the intervertebral discs of the spine. In addition, the height-adjustable desk can be individually adjusted to suit any size of worker and can be set correctly for any position. Sufficient legroom is also an important part of the height-adjustable desk, so that the legs can be moved again and again and work does not become uncomfortable, even over a longer period of time.
Who needs a height-adjustable desk?
The height-adjustable desk is suitable for all people who work a lot in a sitting position and do not have the opportunity to relieve muscles and spine by regularly standing up and stretching or similar. It doesn’t matter whether you work mainly at the computer or other types of desk work. A change in posture is important so that muscles do not shorten and bone growth is stimulated.
Especially people who already suffer from chronic illnesses such as tension in the neck, a slipped disc or tension headaches can possibly benefit from a height-adjustable desk. A more ergonomic posture by adjusting the desk to the individual height can relieve the back and shoulder area, which is not always possible with desks in standard sizes. Again and again, an increase in performance and creativity is combined with movement.
This can be made possible by a height-adjustable desk whenever a thought-provoking impulse or change of perspective is desired in creative and other professions. People with health problems such as obesity, high blood pressure or diabetes also benefit from the little extra movement that a height-adjustable desk offers, thus stimulating the cardiovascular system and metabolism. People with bone loss (osteoporosis) can also benefit from an ergonomic desk, as movement counteracts the loss of bone mass and sitting accelerates the loss even more.
Therefore, variety is very important here. Further research has shown that telephone calls made at height-adjustable desks are more successful. This is attributed to improved communication while standing, as the upright, open posture increases self-confidence and makes the person look more likeable.
This could help people in communicative professions such as hotlines and call centers or in negotiations on the phone. According to the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, height-adjustable desks must meet certain characteristics or requirements. Depending on the manufacturer, however, there are additional different characteristics.
Among the properties that are specified are the height of the adjustable desk surface (60 to 118cm), the working surface of the desk and the depth of the desk (depending on the type of computer monitor 80 to 100cm). If the work at the desk is mixed work, i.e. work is done at the computer and also writing work, there should be enough space for both areas, but at least 80x160cm. The areas can also be better separated by an angular shape of the desk.
Furthermore, there should be no sharp corners and edges at an ergonomic workstation and legroom should not be restricted, which means that there should be no fixed shelves or storage areas or cross braces under the table. There are stand-sit tables that allow work to be done standing or sitting and simple height-adjustable desks that can be adapted to the individual worker. The height adjustment is available in both electrical and mechanical versions.
The mechanical version usually works with a crank handle and is a little more complicated than the electrical version, but is less expensive. The electrical version is available with different characteristics. The height of the table is controlled by a motor and a power supply is needed.There are tables with memory functions where the height can be programmed in sitting and standing position and the table then moves to the preset height at the push of a button.
Usually more than one profile can be stored, so that the height-adjustable desk can be used by more than one person. Many desks also offer cable ducts so that cables from monitors and other electronic devices do not restrict the work surface, as well as brackets for monitors. Other special features of height-adjustable desks can include “soft stop” mechanisms (when adjusting the height, there is no abrupt stopping and thus no slipping of objects) or displays that allow the height to be adjusted.