The adjustable desk project was funded by a non-profit organization in the community. Two teachers were awarded six stand up desks for their classrooms. The desks are specifically designed for students, and are equipped with a swinging footrest that encourages movement and a natural fidget. Now students can move freely without feeling restless and trapped in their seats.

“Just asking the kids about [the desks] brings a big smile to their faces,” the principal said. “The fidget bar is a great invention. Students who need to do something physical while at their desk finally have something that is not disruptive to those around them.”

The teachers reported that the students were much more engaged at the standup desk, and constantly moved their feet back and forth with the fidget bar. Students didn’t ask to use the bathroom or water fountain as much, and the height allowed them to see the board better.

The desks were designed by teachers and an ergonomic manufacturer to help students focus more in schools. Researched showed that basic fidgeting burned 100 to 800 calories a day, and children are less disruptive and more productive since they have an outlet for their energy.

According to the book, Fidget to Focus, the authors explained that fidgeting is a natural reaction and actually stimulates focus. Adults are able to take breaks and change tasks, while students are forced to remain in their seats in traditional classrooms.

Of course the desks included a stool, so the students could easily rest their legs once they needed to take a seat. But they weren’t used as often, since students were happy to use the swinging footrest and stand. The result was so positive that the teacher’s wanted a full classroom of standing desks.

But because there were only three in each room, students rotated between using the standing desk and the traditional desk. “Students who are not using the standup desk continue to sit on their knees, stand and fidget at their desks,” the teacher said. “I don’t see these distractions from the students who use the standup desks.”

Since this was an experiment to test standing desks in schools, the teachers assessed student’s behavior and compared actions like slouching, eye contact, and hand and seat fidgeting. If the results are substantial, the elementary school will most likely add more desks into the classrooms.

What do you think about adding standing desks to a classroom? Would you encourage your local schools to get behind the movement?

See the full article from The Progress, here:

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The teacher’s wanted to allow students greater flexibility and mobility in the classroom. The small private school is comparative to an elementary school and strongly promotes the health and well-being of students.

The school director has a stability ball and a standing desk in her own office, and decided to promote this idea in the classroom. She firmly believes that using nontraditional classroom equipment can increase a student’s overall focus for a better learning experience.

“It’s more natural for students to move,” she said. “Having them stay still has a negative impact on learning.”

Nontraditional classroom equipment, like an adjustable height desk and a stability ball, results in new rules and regulations. The students were taught how to use the equipment safely, and had to sign a contract that promised to follow safety guidelines. Their parents were also included in the transition, and offered information on the health benefits of using a standing desk and nontraditional chair.

On parent was so pleased with the results that he bought two stability balls for him and his son to use at home. The teachers also reported fewer disciplinary issues in class. “The stability balls have made such a positive difference in class,” said a fourth grade teacher. “I’ve never had such a quiet, hardworking math class.”

The stability ball didn’t get all the credit, an adjustable height desk showed to have positive benefits on students’ concentration. One teacher was skeptical about incorporating a standing desk in her classroom, but she quickly converted once one student, who usually had trouble concentrating and remaining on task, was able to work through an entire class period behind the desk.

The student, who didn’t disrupt the classroom once, also turned in quality work when the class period was finished. The teacher was so impressed that she decided to order more standing desks for her students to use.

This isn’t the first school to use a standing desk or nontraditional desk chair in the classroom. Last February we touched on a study of a first-grade classroom in Texas that was equipped with adjustable height desks. The students used a stool instead of a stability ball, so they could sit and stand as needed.

After six weeks into the study, 70 percent of the students never used the stool during the day, with 30 percent standing the majority of the time behind the standing desk. The study went on to reveal that overweight students who stood the majority of the day increased calorie burn by 32 percent!

With childhood obesity and ADHD diagnosis on the rise, it’s no wonder schools are searching for new and improved ways to promote a child’s well-being and increase focus at the same time. Whether it’s a standing desk or a desk used with a stability ball, it’s becoming more and more apparent that children need the flexibility to move throughout the day for a better learning environment.

via The Messenger-Gazette

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Adjustable Height desks improve employees productivity at the office.

Ergonomic height adjustable desks are not just the new cool thing in the business world, like bagels were ten years ago and like kale bars are now. Unlike these “healthy” trends, which can wax and wane with the days of the week, the ergonomic height adjustable desk is in the workplace to stay—and for good reason!  According to a study by Dr. Alan Hedge at Cornell University, using one of these ergonomic height adjustable desks throughout the day at work actually makes workers more productive and healthier over all.

So here is a bit of background on this study: 53 computer-using participants, who reported using a mouse for up to 60 percent of their day and a keyboard for at least 50 percent, were asked to start out at a normal, seated desk. Next, 45 of the participants were asked to use an ergonomic height adjustable desk. They weren’t required to stand up rather than sit down—these ergonomic height adjustable desks could either be high or low, after all—but ultimately the participants decided to stand on their own.

Matter of fact, 81 percent reported standing at least once a day, 18 percent reported standing five or more times a day, and 5 percent reported standing three or more times a day. Overall, those people using the ergonomic height adjustable desks reported standing for over 20 percent of their day.

When Dr. Hedge compared the two groups—those using regular desks and those using ergonomic height adjustable desks—there was a huge decrease in musculoskeletal discomfort. For those using regular desks, the average level of musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) was a whopping 43.1—just from sitting down! For those using ergonomic height adjustable desks, though, the average MSD was only 35.1—nearly a 20 percent decrease.

Productivity was up in the group using ergonomic height adjustable desks. 57.5 percent of those using ergonomic height adjustable desks reported that their productivity was “somewhat helped” to “definitely helped” by using their desk, whereas only 20 percent of those using a regular, or fixed height desk, reported an increase in productivity.

With an ergonomic height adjustable desk, workers are more productive in a couple of different ways. First of all, with an ergonomic desk employees can take fewer breaks, because they can move around while they’re still working (I’m doing it right now, actually. Can you guess which song I’m dancing at my desk to?)

Second of all, ergonomic height adjustable desks physically make employees more productive, because when you switch between standing and sitting, your metabolism, circulation, and energy increases. Ultimately this leads to less grogginess and improved efficiency in workers.

And who doesn’t want that?

All over the world, hundreds of companies like Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Dell and Google, offer their employees ergonomic height adjustable desks and even treadmill options (Yes, treadmills). The rise in the ergonomic height adjustable desk goes far beyond Silicon Valley though. Schools all over the country are starting to implement them into the classrooms. The National Institute of Health uses them and employees at the FBI and the Mayo Clinic are even standing up at work.

These are companies known for being productive—they have to be! So take a leaf out of their books: Bring ergonomic height adjustable desks into your work place for healthier, happier, and more productive employees.

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