Staying at your work desk for long hours harms your health more than you know. Studies have shown that people with a sedentary lifestyle are at higher risk for diabetes, back pain, and heart diseases.
In 2010, A PubMed research showed that humans increase the overall risk of dying by 11 percent within seven years for every extra hour spent sitting daily. Using a treadmill desk is a great way to keep your body active even when you work. This article discusses treadmill desks and the best standing treadmill desks for home use.
What are Treadmill Desks?
A standing treadmill desk is a workstation that includes a standing desk with adjustable height, which fits under an office treadmill. That helps you get in some walks on your treadmill in between work or just help you work while you’re working out.
Treadmill desks typically run at about two miles per hour, enough to keep you active but not exhausted. It helps you stretch your body and have light walks when leg and back cramps begin to set in at work.
Walking is a low-impact exercise that is good for your heart, and it can help you lose weight or maintain your weight. Walking also helps improve your mood and energy levels.
Importance of Treadmill Desks
There are many health benefits to using a treadmill desk. Treadmill desks perform a variety of functions for our physical and physiological health. Some of them include:
- Exercise. The US Department of Health and Health Services recommends an average of 150 minutes of moderate-level exercise such as walking. Using a treadmill can help you achieve this goal by taking brisk walks on the machine between work.
- Reduce Back Pain. Walking helps reduce backaches and cramps that may arise from sedentary by strengthening the back muscles. It also helps to enhance blood flow in your lower back, reducing the possibility of having back pain.
- Reduce Risk to Chronic Diseases. Several studies prove that walking reduces your chances of having chronic diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, and obesity because it lowers your blood glucose and blood pressure levels.
- Increased Metabolism. Walking and working help you remain active even while working, maintaining healthy heart function. A study published by the National Library of Medicine revealed that treadmill desks helped reduce 100 calories compared to conventional desk setup.
- Improve Your Mental Health. Not only do treadmill desks help to keep you physically healthy, but they also improve your mind. Walking helps release toxins and aids blood flow to your brain and body. It calms your central nervous system, keeping you relaxed and relieving your stress. As a result, you can reduce anxiety, depression, and mental fatigue.
What Should I Look for in a Treadmill Desk?
Alt-Text: A male feet walking on a treadmill
If you’re in the market for a treadmill desk, you should consider how often you plan to use it. If you plan to use it every day, you’ll want a durable model with many features. Here are some other factors to consider:
- Speed. A treadmill desk isn’t supposed to get you sweating like you’re fresh out of the gym. It should help you flex your muscles. Hence, it would be best to look out for a max speed of about three miles per hour, which is the average walking speed of an adult.
- Maximum User Weight and Height. It is essential to look out for a treadmill desk that fits your weight and height, considering that most have a weight limit of about 300 pounds. If your under-the-desk treadmill can’t handle your body weight, it can lead to its malfunction.
- Cost. It would help if you considered the cost of your treadmill desk before purchasing to ensure it fits your budget. It can go from as low as $300 to about $2,000 for high-end products.
- Size and Shape. This is a necessary factor because a treadmill desk should typically fit into your workspace. You can also check for other mobility dimensions, such as if it is foldable or wheels, in case you need to take it out of the room. You may need to measure the corner you wish to place it in to see if it matches the desk.
- Noise. You want to make sure that the desk doesn’t make noise that can distract you or others while at work. Hence, ensure you include this feature on the checklist of must-haves on your next treadmill desk.
- Durability and Maintenance. Scan through reviews on online sites to see the quality and durability of the treadmill desk you’re seeking to buy. Check for a good warranty in the event of a defect.
The Best Standing Treadmill Desks for Home
Here is a list of some of the best standing treadmill desks that you can use at home:
Goplus 2-in-1 Standing Treadmill
The Goplus 2-in-1 standing alloy steel is a foldable, easy-to-move standing treadmill. It can fit under a desk when folded and go 0.6 to 2.4 mph. It has a speed rating of 3 miles per hour.
You can also connect your phone to it via Bluetooth to listen to your favorite podcast or music or talk with your friends and colleagues. It has a maximum weight of 265 pounds and an item weight of 70 pounds. The treadmill also has a remote, which can be helpful when you need to adjust the speed or stop the belt.
Sunny Health and Fitness Walkstation
This is an accessible option for people who work from home and want to move more. It has a maximum weight of 220 pounds and a speed rating of 3.75 mph. It has an LCD monitor to display metrics and a remote. If it hasn’t been in use for over ten minutes, the treadmill has a power saver to shut it off. It costs $379.
Lifespan TR1200-DT3 Under Desk Treadmill
This aluminum and alloy steel treadmill are compact with wheels on the front. It has a console that keeps track of activity, such as the number of steps taken, time, distance traveled, and calories burned. The belt can be adjusted from 0.4mph to 4mph and hold 350 pounds.
Are Treadmill Desks a Good Idea?
Yes, treadmill desks are a good idea. While they may be suitable for your physical well-being, such as reducing back pain, they may also help to reduce your chances of having chronic and cardiovascular diseases. Purchase treadmill desks for your home and live a healthier life every day.