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Sit and Stand to Prevent Injuries with Varier and the Uplift Desk

2011-12-09T16:54:03+00:00

I think about R.E.M. a lot when I’m at work. You remember that song “Stand?” The lyric, “Stand in the place where you work,” usually pops in my head whenever I decide it’s time to raise my height adjustable desk and work standing up.

That’s right, we sell ergonomic height adjustable desks here at The Human Solution, and we also use them every day. Our office and showroom in Austin, TX, is packed with Uplift Height Adjustable Desks. (Do you live in or around Austin? Come and try ‘em out!)

I try to stand at my workstation for at least 15 minutes every hour (the minimum amount of time recommended by our in-house ergonomist and CEO). The benefits of standing at your desk for short amounts of time are many, and our friends at Varier, one of the top manufacturers in progressive ergonomic seating, understand that standing at your workstation, or using a desk like the Uplift height adjustable desk, can help increase energy levels, productivity, and long-term health.

Varier lists some of thimagee health benefits of standing at work on their ergonomics blog. Here are some highlights:

- Standing burns more calories than sitting (always a good thing)

- Standing is easier on the back when compared to sitting. It decreases loads on the spine, which can help prevent work injuries.

We also know that standing helps increase blood flow and energy. Standing at your workstation for the recommended amount of time can also help improve focus, promote respiration and increase productivity. And, as Varier also points out, “sitting for long periods is also detrimental to health in that the reduced muscle activity uses fewer calories, there are increased loads through the spinal structures particularly in slouched postures, and sustained sitting can also lead to blood clots.”

Varier also reminds us that it’s important to vary your posture between sitting and standing throughout the day, and that you need to move while you are sitting and standing to stay alert and to keep active. So stretch and move around while you are standing at your desk, and try to stay active while you are sitting.

One of the best ways to stay active while seated, perching, or resting is with an active ergonomic chair, like the Varier Move Stool. The Move Stool features a graded curved disc base that allows you to easily angle and tilt the stool in any direction. It allows you the freedom to move around while also helping to support and strengthen your back and ab muscles. The move Stool’s unique seat is designed for comfort and to aid in relieving pressure on our neck and spine, allowing for better respiration.

View our full line of Varier active ergonomic seating solutions. All of these chairs are designed to promote movement while seated or perched and to provide long term comfort and support for your entire body.

The Importance of Being Upright: An Ergonomic Workspace in Two Parts

2011-11-08T22:01:45+00:00

In many ways, the movie Minority Report, with “Pre-Cogs” that can predict crimes before they happen and a police force that acts on these premonitions, is a dream of preventing disastrous events before they happen; to control and dictate fate. After all, if you knew something bad were to happen to you or a loved one, wouldn’t you do everything you could to prevent it?

In many ways this concept applies to our health, as well. I speak with dozens of people a week who describe excruciating back pain, poor leg circulation, shoulders frozen in place by injury—all a result of an unhealthy work environment which has slowly, quietly eroded their body. There are various desk exercises you can do during your daily stint at work, but, as a contributing member of society, you can only take so many micro breaks or take the long way around the office so many times.

Ergonomics, with its focus on using the body and its needs as the basis for workplace design, exists to defrost locked joints and assuage other work-related injuries. Micro-break all you want, but there is simply no substitute for a sit-to-stand desk when it comes to living an ergonomically-sound—that is, healthy—life. There is, however, a substitute for a stationary workspace: the Uplift Adjustable Height Desk.

image While healthy and smart, the purchase of an ergonomic desk—or any ergonomic product—may seem superfluous. After all, why should I take medicine if I’m not sick? Well, why would you want to be sick? The best medicine is always proactive prevention, especially when it comes to ergonomics. Has Tom Cruise and his PreCrime police force taught us nothing? You may not have been convicted of a future murder, but numerous studies conclude people who sit the majority of the day have a lowered life expectancy compared to those who use a sit-to-stand desk. It is imperative you listen to your body’s needs, wants, and warnings.

Everyone here at The Human Solution uses, and frequently adjusts, the height of their Uplift desk. Suddenly, one of my coworkers will arise from the depths of their workspace, desk in tow, up with the soft hum of the Uplift’s electronic motor. With the motor raising the desk roughly an inch a second, those soft hums pop up quite a bit throughout an average day. Standing engages your leg, core, and back muscles, burns calories, and increases productivity as you feel refreshed, energized, and, most importantly, happy and healthy. As you might imagine, with all the moving we at The Human Solution do throughout the day we stay rather perky and invigorated (which might explain the great customer service we offer).

imageIn the event you are ready to sit, the Raynor Ergohuman V2 Chair makes for a fantastic ergonomic chair. One of our most popular chairs, the V2 is the latest model in Raynor’s wildly popular Ergohuman line. The new V2 offers 4-way adjustable arms, a 5-position back angle tilt-lock, and the frame has been given a polished aluminum makeover. The chair itself is heavier, sturdier, and its quality craftsmanship can now support up to 300lbs. The redesigned seat offers more long-term support and reduces pressure placed on the back of the legs with an increased waterfall seat edge, though the seat is half an inch slimmer than the previous model, the Ergohuman V1. Finally, the Ergohuman V2 is now available in fabric, an additional option over mesh and leather, which offers an even wider selection of customization for one of our biggest sellers.

The goal in combining an adjustable height desk with an Ergohuman V2 is to increase your comfort and well-being, as well as quality and length of life. Ergonomic products are and should be thought of as necessities, but once you experience the benefits of a sit-to-stand desk, and the craftsmanship of the Ergohuman V2, you’ll feel swathed in luxury.

The Varier Move Stool: A Dynamic Seating Solution for a Standing Desk

2011-11-04T16:14:35+00:00

How much time do you spend sitting in front of your desk every day? Five or six hours? Eight hours? More? It wouldn’t surprise me; I’ve spoken to people who say they sit for twelve hours every day. Twelve hours! That’s gotta hurt!

If you’ve visited our site before, you probably know that sitting for several hours straight is bad for you. You probably know that you should get up from your chair at least once every hour and stretch or walk around. You probably know that you should take several short breaks during the day to combat sitting fatigue and other potential health issues caused by sitting. But did you know that using a sit-to-stand workstation is one of the best ways to increase your activity level and overall health? It’s true. Several reports have shown that increasing your activity level during your workday, like standing at your workstation, can help with long term health issues, such as back pain, limb pain, and muscle cramps.

As we’ve mentioned, a sit-to-stand electric height adjustable desk will offer you a more dynamic workstation and a better way to work. Standing while working, at least for some time during the the day, increases blood flow and promotes respiration. Several studies have shown that it also increases cogitation. Plus, you burn 40% more calories standing than sitting. So, I’m sure you get the message: Having the option to stand at your desk during your workday will lead to a healthier, more productive, and more comfortable working life.

imageThe health benefits of alternating sitting with standing cannot be overstated, and if you choose to upgrade to a sit-to-stand workstation, we recommend that in addition to your traditional office chair you purchase a second chair, one that is designed to work with a standing workstation, like the Varier Move Standing Stool, also known as the Varier Move Stool.

The Move Stool is a unique ergonomic stool that gives you a half-standing, half sitting position, and it encourages you to move around and stay active as you work. It also gives you a comfortable and supportive place to lean or perch when you want to keep your adjustable height desk at an elevated position, but you don’t want to stay on your feet for several hours.

The Move Stool also features a specially-designed convex base. According to Varier, the makers of the Move Stool, the stool’s convex disk base “not only encourages movement, but exercises spinal and abdominal muscles in order to maintain balance, thus avoiding unhealthy extended periods of static standing.” The base provides a full 360-degree range of motion. The Move helps you stay active and healthy while you’re leaning or perching, and its padded seat offers you comfortable support.

Unlike traditional office chairs, the Move Stool gives your legs room to swing, combating pressure on the thighs and eliminating swelling that can be caused by traditional office chairs, and helping to increase overall blood flow.

The Move also features an easy-to-use height adjustment system, and it’s available in three different heights and two seat sizes to accommodate almost anyone. It’s also lightweight and easy to move around, so you can perch at your desk, at the breakfast table, or anywhere you like. The Move Stool offers dynamic support for any environment.

View the video below to see the Move Stool in action:

(Source: “Standing desks need a standing support” by Varier)

LED Lights are Dimmable

2011-10-21T15:05:01+00:00

This is the ninth entry in a series about ergonomic LED lighting.

What do you think of when you hear the phrase “dim bulb?” Perhaps Joey from Friends comes to mind, or maybe Homer Simpson, or your annoying cousin Fernie who still lives at home (what, just me?). Well, it’s time to change your thinking. The phrase “dim bulb” is getting a facelift, because now, dim bulbs are one of the most desirable features in ergonomic lighting.

Many of the latest Humanscale LED Task Lights feature an intuitive dimmer control that allows you to control your lighting level for changing tasks. Lighting is an important part of an ergonomic workspace. Having a task light that allows you to adjust the light intensity to your desired setting can help you conserve energy and increase comfort and productivity.

The Humanscale Element Vision LED Light features a dimmer switch that allows users to easily adjust the lighting level. The Element Vision, which provides as much light as a 70 watt incandescent bulb but uses only 7 watts, also comes standard with a Passive Infrared (PIR) occupancy sensor, which automatically powers down and turns on the light when you leave or arrive at your desk. That’s right, it turns off when you leave and switches on when you return, saving energy and instantly adjusting to fit your needs.

The progressive (and totally bendy) Humanscale Element 790 LED Light also features a dimmer control system that provides seven different levels of illumination. The sleek-looking Humanscale Horizon LED Task Light also packs a built-in dimmer control with seven different levels.

The dimmer features on these lights are convenient and they also help conserve energy while providing the right amount of high-quality LED illumination for your daily tasks.

This is the ninth entry in a series about ergonomic LED lights. Read the rest of the series, starting with our initial posts about the benefits of LED lights and check out the rest of the series below:

LED Lights Generate no Heat
LED Lights don’t give off Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation
LED Lights Contain No Mercury
LED Lights Create Little to No Flickering
LED Lights Shine Bright and Last Long
LED Task Lights Are Energy-Efficient
LED Task Lights Have a Long Life

Review: The Nightingale 7000 Veronna Chair

2011-10-19T20:03:51+00:00

Nightingale Corp. is known for its series of diverse award-winning chairs – they offer everything from lounge chairs and stackable chairs to conference chairs and executive chairs. One of our favorite Nightingale executive chairs is the Nightingale CXO, a popular ergo seating solution that features energy absorbing foam, fully adjustable armrests, and many more adjustable ergonomic features. One of the newest additions to the Nightingale line – the Nightingale 7000 Veronna Chair – offers many of the same features available in the Nightingale CXO but at a lower price point.

Like the CXO, the Veronna Chair is crafted with ENERSORB foam seats, which offer instant personalized comfort and support that helps relieve pressure and even helps improve blood circulation. We find these factors are extremely important to our ergo chair shoppers, especially those who sit for more than five hours every day. (Is that you? Yeah it is! Keep reading …) Also like the CXO, the Veronna has four-way adjustable padded armrests – they’re trigger activated and adjust vertically, and they pivot in and out and forwards and backwards. You can place them right where you want them or just move ‘em out of the way!

Now, here’s something the Veronna doesn’t have in common with the CXO – an ultra slim design. Much like the Steelcase Think Chair, the Nightingale Veronna features a sharp, clean-line profile that blends contemporary style with classic elegance. It’s available in several different fabric colors and nine durable leather color options.

One of the most important factors to consider when shopping for an ergonomic chair is the chair’s lumbar support. The Veronna Chair doesn’t disappoint in this regard. The lumbar support pad on the Veronna can be adjusted three inches vertically, so you can get the support right where you need it. The lumbar support sits neatly tucked behind the chair back, which is padded with high-resilient foam to offer extra comfort and durability.

Like many high-end ergonomic chairs, the Veronna is designed with a swivel-tilt mechanism, which allows you to lean back easily and to lock the chair back in place for optimum comfort. The Veronna also comes standard with a seat slider, which offers 2.5’’ of adjustable seat depth. These features ensure that the Veronna will fit a wide range of users seeking ergonomic comfort and support, and a sleek-looking chair, at a desirable price point.

Keyboard Tray Solutions for a Desk That’s Giving You Lip

2011-10-10T20:13:42+00:00

So you’re looking into getting an ergonomic keyboard tray setup for a decidedly non-ergonomic desk you already own, and you’re running into a problem. A problem you’re finding it difficult to find a solution for, or even how to describe.

We’ve heard it numerous times, in different ways. Your desk has a front “lip.” It has a “protruding edge.” It’s “thicker in the front.” (That one’s my favorite.) Basically, you have a desk where the front edge is just a little thicker (or maybe even a couple of inches thicker) than the rest of the work surface. Most people will call this the “lip” of the desk, but that certainly doesn’t help much in your online search for a solution— try searching “desk with lip” on Google and you get some fun results, especially in Google Images.

Really, the best solution to this problem is the simplest one—to install a piece of wood under the desk with the track mechanism of whatever keyboard tray you get so that the tray is lower and can clear the lip. Of course, you’d have to make sure you use a piece of wood that will keep the track level and ensure the tray clears the lip properly. Luckily, we now offer a solution specifically designed to combat this problem: the Keyboard Tray Mounting Spacer, which attaches between the work surface and the mounting track. The spacers come in varying lengths and thicknesses to meet your specific desk’s needs. So even those whose desks aren’t exactly keyboard tray friendly can enjoy the reduced stress and increased productivity that having your keyboard at lap level provides.

imageSo now you need to know which keyboard tray will best work with this setup. As always, we like to steer people towards our Humanscale model keyboard trays. They’re our most popular, mostly for their movement and versatility. Either the 900 or the 500 model would be a good fit with most desks, and you’re going to want to pick a track mechanism that will work best with that pesky lip.

Luckily, all of the Humanscale track mechanisms adjust anywhere from three to five inches below the track, so that will help getting the tray past the lip of the desk. But the track itself will be a little lower with the spacer, so you may want to opt for the Above-Desk (AD) track, so that after it clears the lip you can adjust the tray up a bit and have it at the proper ergonomic level.

So don’t fret, my lipped-desk friend. You don’t have to go on placing your keyboard on the desk surface, resulting in you raising your shoulders and reaching too far. This, of course, can have disastrous physical results down the line if you spend any significant amount of time working in this position.

But then again, if you’re already looking for a keyboard tray, you know this. In fact, if you’re seriously concerned about the ergonomics of your work space, I would suggest getting rid of that desk altogether and going with one of our sit-to-stand desks like the Uplift Height Adjustable Desk. Or, if you enjoyed the aesthetic qualities of Old Lippy and want that in a more ergonomic and keyboard tray friendly sit-to-stand desk, our Texas Native Wood Height Adjustable Desk might be just what you’re looking for. It has all the adjustability of a regular sit-to-stand model, but with a beautiful, all-wood tabletop. Also, the single-crossbar base design makes for easy placement of your keyboard tray.

And it’s lip free.

LED Lights Generate No Heat

2011-10-07T14:43:02+00:00

Let’s talk about a problem that most of us deal with every day: Heat!

No, I’m not referring to the terrible heat wave/drought/summer of sweat we’ve been experiencing here in Austin Texas. I’m talking about the heat generated by your desk task light. You know the one – the lamp you probably picked up for $12 at a department store, the one that starts to flicker after a while, the one that gets hotter and hotter as the day goes on. Come on, let’s be honest here—you know you’ve burned your fingertips trying to change the bulb on that thing! You’ve probably even given up on adjusting it because you don’t want to risk burning your hand. So it just sits there. On your desk. All hot and uncooperative.

I say chuck it. Like, now! And replace it with a clean-burning, heat-free LED task lamp. Newer, more efficient, environmentally-friendly LED task lamps generate virtually no heat while providing the highest quality lighting for your workspace. You can leave an LED task light on all day long, and you’ll never have to worry about burning your fingers or about the light giving off too much heat, because LED lights use as little as 10% of the energy used by CFL bulbs, and they last 10 times longer.

For example, the Humanscale Element 790 LED Light emits 250 lumens of light, and it uses only 7 watts of energy. The Element 790 provides as much lighting as a 70 watt incandescent bulb while consuming only 10% of the energy.

Every high quality Humanscale LED task light we offer is safe, long lasting, easy to adjust, and provides the best ergonomic lighting for changing tasks. Our Humanscale LED lights also contain no harmful mercury (unlike lamps with incandescent bulbs), create no flickering, and offer a wide range of ergonomic benefits that other task lights cannot provide. Learn more by visiting our Humanscale LED lights page.

Technology Induced Inactivity and You and Me and Everyone

2011-09-29T22:04:51+00:00

Here is a startling statistic: Less than 17% of adults currently fall into the “normal BMI” range. That’s down from 52% in 1987, only twenty four years ago. Never in the history of history has there been such a change in human proportion in a single generation.

If you’re like most people, you don’t get much exercise. The most exercise you probably get all day consists of that incredulous widening of eyes and scooting forward in your seat, along with a slight uptick in heart rate. But it’s interesting to note that the general population gets as much daily “exercise” today as we did in 1987. Still, there are more overweight people, percentage wise, today than there were 24 years ago.

The page you are looking for is not here. Try:

http://site.thehumansolution.com/ergoblog/2011/09/technology-induced-inactivity-and-you-and-me-and-everyone//

If you are not redirected automatically within a few seconds then please click on the link above.

LED Lights don’t give off Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation

2011-09-26T15:07:18+00:00

This is the seventh entry in a series about ergonomic LED lighting.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays affect everyone. It’s important for us to take steps to reduce the long-term harmful effects that UV rays can have on our eyes, skin and overall health. It’s also important to know exactly what you’re exposing yourself to every day, in terms of your work environment and the products that you purchase for your workstation. That’s why we recommend using LED task lights on your work surface.

LED lights don’t give off ultraviolet radiation. Ergonomic LED lights burn clean and bright, and they offer the best and most efficient task lighting available on the market. You can rest easy when considering upgrading to an LED task light…

The page you are looking for is not here. Try:

http://site.thehumansolution.com/ergoblog/2011/09/led-lights-don%E2%80%99t-give-off-ultraviolet-uv-radiation/

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LED Lights Contain No Mercury

2011-09-09T16:20:32+00:00

LED lights are far more cost and energy-efficient when compared to fluorescent lights, and they provide the best lighting output available. But those aren’t the only reasons LEDs are popular among energy and environmentally conscious consumers. Unlike compact fluorescent lights, LEDs don’t contain mercury, helping to cut the rate of dangerous mercury absorption into the environment.

LED lights contain no mercury, period, making LEDs the safest lighting solution for any home, office, or workspace. The dangers of mercury content in CFL bulbs cannot be overstated – exposure to the mercury neurotoxin used in CFL lights…

The page you are looking for is not here. Try:

http://site.thehumansolution.com/ergoblog/2011/09/led-lights-contain-no-mercury/

If you are not redirected automatically within a few seconds then please click on the link above.