The importance of keeping moving

Advice for office workers and their managers on problems associated with undesirable working postures should concentrate on prevention rather than cure. The current view is that it is much better for people to alternative between sitting and standing postures during their work rather than remain seated. Desks that are adjustable up to 1200mm in height enable users to work whilst standing and this should be encouraged. Why not consider having meetings standing up at a high desk? Meetings with participants standing tend not to drag on Æ they finish fairly quickly! Regular exercise at the workplace can reduce the ill effects of sitting down for long periods. Periodically stretching the whole body and getting up and walking across the office are beneficial.

Office jobs should also be designed to discourage workers from carrying out the same tasks all day and instead allow tasks with different mental and physical demands to be alternated. People should take frequent short breaks before they become fatigued, avoiding discomfort, monotony, error and inefficiency. Some call centres in particular have recently attracted media attention of failing to appreciate that their employees need to take breaks. If the aim is to enable people to work more efficiently be creative, healthy and happy then modification of workplaces and jobs that encourage changes in posture cannot be ignored.