If you work in an office environment in New York, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has provided industry-specific regulations to prevent unsafe working conditions at your job. The proliferation of carpal tunnel and other repetitive stress injuries has probably influenced the way your employer has designed your workstation. However, at the Klein Law Group, we understand that the most ergonomic setup is not necessarily enough to avoid other health challenges that you might encounter.
According to the New York Daily News, the sedentary nature of many office jobs contributes to a number of health issues. No matter how well you maintain your posture while sitting at your desk, the fact that you are sitting for long periods of time is enough to cause your system to suffer. The resulting lack of circulation inhibits blood and oxygen from keeping your muscles, bones and brain from functioning at full capacity.
Your internal organs may also be affected by too much time in a sitting position. For example, you may have an increase in insulin because sitting reduces the body’s insulin response and leads to its overproduction. Researchers have found that with only 90 seconds of standing, your physical well-being improves.
Daily exercise is not enough to keep your system stimulated and prevent you from developing a health condition. Experts recommend that you take frequent breaks from sitting for walking and stretching to help combat many of these negative consequences. You may also find that a desk that requires you to stand could help counter the ill health effects of a sedentary job. Our page on employment safety can help you find more information about this topic.