THE BENEFITS OF STANDING DESKS AND ALTERNATE SEATING OPTIONS Did you know that standing burns between .7 to .15 more calories per minute than sitting does? It may not seem like a lot, but by simply standing for longer periods of time, you can easily burn more calories throughout the day. Sedentary lifestyles, such as those traditionally associated with desk jobs, can increase your risk of heart disease, obesity, or other serious health issues. However, investing in a standing desk or alternate seating option at work can help in greatly decreasing these risks! What’s The Best Desk For You? Using a standing desk as opposed to a traditional sitting desk has been proven to lower one’s chances of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Nevertheless, standing desks are not for everyone, especially those with joint or vascular conditions. You may be asking, “doesn’t standing all day long have its own implications?” The short answer is – yes. Anything without moderation can have its pitfalls. Standing can boost your energy levels, concentration, and even your mood, but if you have a traditional 9-5 job, chances are that level of productivity will dissipate after a while. Standing for too long can cause you to run out of energy quicker and can take a toll on your physical comfort. Many medical professionals recommend adjustable desks for workplace environments, so employees can spend a large amount of their day standing or stretching, with the opportunity to rest when they become tired. Making The Most Out Of Your Work Day: Studies suggest whether you choose a standing or adjustable desk for your work day, integrative support can be beneficial in easing yourself into the new setting. In fact, those who participated in some sort of integrative support program for their standing or adjustable desk stood for an average of 50 minutes longer each day than those who did not. In addition to the type of desk you stand at, ergonomics is also an important concept to keep in mind. Ergonomic laptop desks and chairs can promote proper posture and decrease the risk for back problems, while workplace design can make an impact on employee happiness, productivity, and well-being.
Quiet Your Mind By Living In The Now
We’re all living through times of significantly elevated stress with the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the best ways to reduce stress and anxiety is to practice living in the present moment, or the “Now”. For many of us, this can be very difficult to attain, as we spend an exhausting amount of energy re-living the past or worrying about future events which we have little to no control over. Here are a few suggestions for becoming more “present” in your daily life. 1) Practice breathing: Devote a few minutes 2-3x/day to sitting somewhere quiet and free of distractions. Close your eyes. Take a slow, even, deep breath to fully fill your lungs. Slowly exhale. Repeat 5 times. 2) Do a full “body scan”: Trouble sleeping at night due to stress and an over-active brain? Start from your toes and deeply focus on what you feel. Perhaps a warmth or “tingling” energy flowing from that part of the body. Whatever you feel is fine, no need to label it “good” or “bad”. Just notice it for a while and then slowly work your way up to your calves, then your knees, etc. Do a full body scan all the way up to your face and head. 3) Appreciate nature: Whether you’re out taking a walk or simply looking out your window, take time to quietly appreciate the depth of natural beauty that surrounds you. Notice everything: the sounds of birds chirping, the buds appearing on the trees, the squirrels running around, the gently breeze on your face. Stop thinking and just notice. Lose yourself in the beauty of nature. 4) Listen to some music: Whether you have one favorite type of music or have a more eclectic palate, spend time each day allowing music to positively alter your mood and ground you in the present moment. If you like to sing or dance, do that as well. Music is good for the soul. 5) Practice gratitude: Each day, find 5 things that you are truly grateful for. If you cannot find at least five, try harder. There is plenty we can each be thankful for. Remembering what we have is a wonderful way to gain perspective, reduce your stress, and ground yourself in the now. Good Luck!
Our Vision For Re-Opening In The Near Future!
Hello readers,
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family healthy and in good spirits. Even as our offices are currently closed, we are already busy preparing for that time when we re-open. Hopefully this will occur in the not-too-distant future when Governor Wolf lifts the “stay at home” order for Montgomery County. The most likely protocol for re-opening our Fort Washington and Blue Bell clinics to our patients will include the following. These protocols are subject to change based on the guidance of the CDC and local health officials.
• Masks will be worn by staff
• We may require that cloth face coverings or masks be worn by patients (you will need to supply your own)
• Patient temperature may be taken on entry to our offices
• Purell/hand sanitizer on entry (you can bring your own if you’d like)
• Continued rigorous sanitization procedures for tables, equipment and surfaces
• Initially each PT will schedule 1 patient per hour and our clinical staff will have a staggered work schedule to dramatically reduce the number of people in the clinic at any one time. We had been practicing this prior to closing and it was very successful.
• We will continue to take advantage of the private treatment rooms in each office for further safety precautions.
WWW.DRESHERPT.COM
- Matt Seabrook, PT, MS and Owner of Dresher PT
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