Why and how height adjustable desks should be used.

1. A presentation of why and how height
adjustable desks should be used
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2. • Height adjustable desks – what is it?
• Sedentary behaviour
• Global trends
• Advantages of height adjustable desks
• Correct use of the desk
• LINAK portfolio
• References
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Content

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Share of height adjustable desks are growing
The world market is growing with 30% per year. In 2014
adjustable desking claimed 55% of total production, while
non-adjustable desking accounted for the remaining 45%. 90%of office workers in Scandinavia have
access to sit–stand workstations
1%of office workers in
the UK have access to
sit–stand workstations
25%of office workers in Germany have
access to sit-stand desks, a number
that have doubled in just 4 years2.2 m
people in France have an office desk
in their work. Only a minority have
access to height adjustable desks
JapanIn Japan there are roughly
24 m office desks. Only
very few are height
adjustable.
US has around 32 m
employers working at an
office desk. Height
adjustable desks are only
very limited.
32 m

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Why Sedentary behaviour – what does it mean?
Sedentary behaviour means:
• You must be expending very little energy (≤1.5 Metabolic equivalents)
• You must be sitting or lying down
• You must be awake

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Sedentary sitting means “too much sitting“ – meaning too little physical exercise
Sedentary behaviour – We are inactive most of the day
We spend up to 12hrs. a day sitting down
Sitting or lying down while being awake, is classified as
‘sedentary’ behaviour. You can be sedentary at
work, school, home, when traveling or during leisure
time. Sedentary behaviour requires little energy
expenditure.
FYI

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How we spend the hours
Height adjustable desks are an indispensable resource for achieving reductions in sedentary behaviour.
The majority of hours awake are spent sedentary (around 60-70percent).
60 - 70%
Sedentary
20 - 30%
Light
<5 - 10%
Moderate - Active

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Regular exercise is not enough
Even 30to 60minutes of jogging a day
will not undo the amount of hours sitting
Recent research shows that sedentary
behaviour is independent of physical
activity. Meaning it is not enough to
exercise regularly – you also need to
spend less time sitting.

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Consequences of inactivity
• 30 % of ischaemic heart diseases are
caused by physical inactivity
• 27 % of diabetes cases are caused by
physical inactivity
• Fatigue appears in the back and neck
muscles by slowing blood supply
• Breaking up your sitting with a short walk
•
can lower your blood sugar level by about 30 %
• Physical inactivity is the 4th leading risk factor for global mortality
95% of all back pains start through inactivity,
while only 5 % of all back pains begins with
strenuous movement

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Sitting – what happens when we sit too much
By getting up out of your chair
throughout the day, you engage
postural muscles that “switch on”
genes that are essential to good
health. When you sit all day, your
health goes into decline.
According to scientists, when we sit
the “enzymes that are responsible for
“burning fat just shut down.” This can
lead to retention of fat, lower good
cholesterol and spark the overall
reduction in the metabolic rate.
In the standing position the natural
curvature of the spine permits the
body to achieve a loading balance.
Prolonged sitting causes a steady
compression on the spinal discs
that can contribute to their
premature degeneration.
Prolonged sitting reduces body
movement making muscles more
likely to pull, cramp or strain. It has
been associated with a high
incidence of back complaints,
discomfort in the lower extremities
and increased muscle loading of the
neck and shoulder muscles.
Additionally, lower demands on
the circulatory system while
sitting results in a slow down of
heart activity and blood flow
which accelerates fatigue.
A study of more than 73,000
women reported that the risk of
dying from heart disease was
nearly 3x higher among people
who sit the most compared to
those who sit the least.

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Having an office desk means inactivity most of the day
Prolonged sitting at work may lead to:
• Negative economic outcomes such as lack of
productivity, absenteeism and presenteeism
• Increasing the risk of developing chronic diseases
such as; Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease,
and musculoskeletal disorders
• Depression, poor mental health
A call for height adjustable desks
• Gives users the capability to choose a working
position that is ideal for their body.
• Eliminates discomfort caused by a “desk that does
not fit” such as insufficient leg space and
awkward keyboard/monitor heights.

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International awareness of prolonged sitting and the introduction of height adjustability
Focus on too much sitting
German Stern Get Britain Standing Danish Samvirke

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International awareness of prolonged sitting and the introduction of height adjustability
Focus on too much sitting
Examples USA

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International awareness of prolonged sitting and the introduction of height adjustability
Focus on too much sitting
Example Australia Example Japan

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International awareness of prolonged sitting and the introduction of height adjustability
Focus on too much sitting
Examples France

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International awareness of prolonged sitting versus movement
Continuous new inventions to make us more active
Apple® watch

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New ways of working to support an active way of working
New Ways of Working
→ Calls for height
adjustable desks
Frequent changes
Matrix-oriented
and in projects
More Flexibility
Working from
everywhere
Employees
sharing desks

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New ways of working
Printing everything ► Less paper – no archives at your desk
Traveling to the office every morning ► Working from home
Keeping the same job for years ► Switching jobs every 5 years
Sitting at the same desk ► Sharing a desk with various colleagues

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Design of office environment changes
• Research shows that standing meetings keep groups more engaged and less territorial than sitting meetings, as a
workspace that encourages people to stand up is going to lead to more collaborative and more creative outputs
An example of an
aesthetic and ergonomic
desk for home offices
The pillow is meant for
power napping
The lamp provides additional
lighting
This table has a height
adjustable silence screen
Today’s workforce requires
touchdown spaces
• A 26-minute nap can boost performance by 34%
• 60% of employees with high access to flexibility are very satisfied with their jobs
• Studies have reported productivity increases within a range of 2.8% to 20% attributed to optimum lighting levels
• In environments with sound masking, employees report improvements of up to 38% for the performance of
tasks and 27% for complex tasks
• Employees are working more often from their homes, meaning that the need for modern home office desks is increasing

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6 steps to a healthier lifestyle
Do not email -
talk face to face
Raise your desk Move the printer Walk & talk Take the stairsGo outside for a break
Get started!
- Obtain motivational tools to get you standing at your desk
- Rearrange the meeting room, stow away chairs
- Team up with colleagues for a joint effort
- Set realistic goals and reward great effort

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Height adjustable desks are on the move
There is a growing
recognition of the issues
of sitting down for the
entire day. In some
countries, the private
sector has a 10-year lead
on facing the issues.
Height adjustable desks
are now included in the
selection of most
leading office furniture
manufacturers.
Public and semi-public
institutions are now
demanding height
adjustable desks
Prices drop and
demand increases.
Interior designers are
also including these
desks in their budget,
and are in a position
to make a case for
them.

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Even leading to national recommendations
In Denmark, Danish Ministry of Labour
“At the place of work, there shall be appropriate furniture in order for the work to be performed in a safe manner. […]
Chairs, work tables, etc., used for changing work tasks or by changing staff shall in so far as possible be
adjustable.” Danish Ministry of Labour
In Norway, National Directorate of Health
‘’Longer periods of sedentary behavior should be interrupted with light activity. Exchange sitting and inactive time
with low intensity activities such as standing, walking or strolling. Children and young people should regularly have
the possibility to have short activity breaks with light muscle activity for a few minutes. The same recommendations
apply to adults who sit for prolonged time at work.
In the US, Department of Health, New York State
Physical inactivity is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease itself. It ranks similarly to cigarette smoking,
high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol. One reason it has such a large affect on mortality is because of its
prevalence. Twice as many adults in the United States are physically inactive than adults who smoke cigarettes.
In Australia, Department of Health
“Sedentary behavior is associated with poorer health outcomes, including an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
You will benefit from minimizing time spent sitting each day, and from breaking up periods of time spent being
sedentary, as often as possible.”

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We need a break from sitting down – and it starts today!
When you Sit: VS When you Stand:
..the risk of cardiovascular
diseases increases by
over time
40%
..the enzymes that
help break down
fat drop
90%
..uninterrupted for more than
hours you counteract the
effect of 60 min exercise
6
..and actively move around,
you can reduce the risk of
cancer up to
25%
..you burn up to
kcal more
per hour
compared to sitting
25%
..your muscle activity is almost
x higher than
during sitting
2.5
Moving is living
Movement is preferred, so shift between sit and
stand postures.

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On average we are inactive 60-70% every day.
Stand up for your health
We need a break from sitting down – and it starts today!
Standing 15 minutes per hour will…
....reduce obesity ....increase weight loss ....improve mental health ....and burn 20,000
more calories a year
....which corresponds to
6 full marathons a year
....and make you
healthier and happier

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Stand up and loose weight
Find out how much with the “Calorie calculator”.
Recent research shows that standing a quarter an hour per day or more is associated with reduced odds of obesity.
www.movingdesks.com/calculators/daily-calories-burned

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Proven that productivity increases
Productivity at your desk increases 10-20% when standing.
- Users of Sit- Stand workstations claim to be more alert,
task-driven and positive
- Research shows a direct link between healthy employees
and improved performance
- Meetings are kept short and efficient
- Better posture and reduced risk of back pain
- Higher energy levels, especially afternoons
Employees who use height adjustable desks are 71% more
focused, 66% more productive and 33% less stressed
Other research proves that using height adjustable desks leads to
improved work productivity, quality, efficiency and a greater
sense of collaboration among groups of employees.

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Reduce sick days
Using height adjustable desks on a regular basis will reduce the number of sick days. Applying
physical workplace activity programs have proven to reduce sick days by up to 32 percent
See e.g. case from a German medical company, Dräger
Dräger Medical conducted staff surveys 3 months after
introducing the desks and again after 6 years. Results from
the 3-month survey revealed 65% of workers felt their
wellbeing had improved at work as a result of the standing
desks, while 3% said it had significantly improved. Similar
results were observed after 6 years with 70% reporting
improved wellbeing at work despite a significant increase in
computer usage.
Sickness absences of workers who reported using the
standing desks regularly, significantly decreased.

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Sick days – it is a costly affair
AN AVERAGE FIRM OF
250 EMPLOYEES LOOSES
£4,800
DUE TO SICKNESS ABSENCE
Height adjustable desks reduce absenteeism in the workplace
8.000.000
WORK DAYS ARE LOST
DUE TO MENTAL HEALTH AND
STRESS RELATED PROBLEMS.
270,000
FOR STRESS RELATED DISORDERS
EMPLOYEES TAKE TIME OFF WORK
4.900.000
BRITISH BUSINESS LOSE
days to employee absenteeism through
work related back pain at a cost
£5.000.000.000.000 p.a.
ABSENTEEISM IN THE
WORKPLACE CAN FALL
BY AS MUCH AS
through wellness programs,
height adjustable desks being one means to this.
42%

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Do not replace prolonged sitting with prolonged standing
Misconceptions about the use of height adjustable desks have resulted in confusion.
It is not intended to sit nor stand up all day.
Effects of Prolonged Sitting:
- Discomfort in lower extremities
- Static muscle fatigue
- Increased spinal muscular activity and intradiscal pressure
- Increased muscle loading in the neck and shoulder muscles
- Decrease in muscle activity resulting in pain and/or spasms
Effects of Prolonged Standing:
- Sore feet
- Swelling of the legs
- Varicose veins
- Static muscle fatigue
- Low back pain
- Stiffness in the neck and shoulders
People are made to move – moving is living

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Important to shift between sit and stand
It is recommended that desk users should progress towards:
Why should you shift between postures?
When we change between sit and stand during the day we adjust the amount of load on the body
and give specific body parts a chance to rest. Standing helps switch on the enzymes that are
responsible for good health, increases blood flow to relieve fatigued muscles and permits the body
to achieve a loading balance. Just the act of going from sit to stand is great for your health. It
forces your body to work against gravity and keeps those skeletal muscles strong. Standing also
helps in the regulation of blood pressure.
h/day of standing min. per hour
It should be divided
into parts, sections of

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How to get started
Important tips when
using a height
adjustable desk:
If you, for medical reasons, are
in doubt whether you can
stand for 5-15 minutes every
hour, you should consult your
physician
Standing up while working is
a habit that your body needs
to adjust to. Start by
standing 5 minutes at a time
It is important to vary
between sitting and standing.
Standing up all day is not
healthy either – it is the
variation that matters
Over time, stand 15 minutes
every hour, accumulating to 2
hours a day
Make it part of your daily
work to shift position
1. 2.
3. 4. 5.

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Choose an ergonomic approach because...
...you are likely to see a drop in sick leaves. It has proven to increase productivity
and efficiency. A flexible and adaptive company is important and attractive.
Do you know ergonomics?
6ergonomic tips to get started
Take short breaks
and walk away
from the desk
Make sure your
desk supports
the weight of
your arms
Avoid prolonged
sitting - stand up
whenever you can
Wear shoes
that do not hurt
your back
Avoid strain
on your neck
and head
Have enough
workspace on
your desk

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3 steps to get you going with your sit-stand desk!
Motivation! Make sure you are motivated to achieve
all the great benefits!
Consistency! Pre-schedule your sit-stand routine and
set reminders!
Ambition! To break habits is never an easy task - set
realistic goals and find your pace!
Improved comfort
Less stress
More energy
It is time for a new evolution!

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Results are not achieved alone
To use a standing desk, it demands guidance and instructions
Some corporations have reported that less than 10% of their height adjustable desk users are actually using
their desks. This is a problem that has been conveyed globally, even in Scandinavian countries where the
majority of the working population have used these types of desks for years.
- Training (it should become part of your every day, build it in as a habit)
- Coaching
- Tools (hardware and software tools, reminder functions, goal: part of the everyday routine)
At LINAK we understand this, and have
developed the LINAK® DESK CONTROL™

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LINAK Desk Control™
Your daily reminder to stand up during your work day

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LINAK height adjustable office desk components

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Selection of OEM references

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Selection of users of height adjustable desks