What are the benefits of standing desks? Should you use one?

Many businesses are increasingly attracting the attention of standing desks because of their positive health benefits for employees. With a height of 100 cm (for fixed standing desks) and adjustable from 65 - 125 cm (for height-adjustable desks suitable for both standing and sitting), these desks allow users to shift between various working positions, reducing the harmful effects of prolonged sitting.

So, are standing desks a worthwhile long-term furniture investment? Okamura will explore five outstanding benefits of this desk model in the article below.

1. Key Benefits of Standing Desks

Integrating standing desks into the workspace is not just a trend but also brings practical health and productivity benefits for office workers.

Below are the key advantages you can gain from using a standing desk:

1.1. Reduces Back Pain and Improves Healthy Spine

Prolonged sitting is a leading cause of spinal damage, especially in the lower back. Specifically:

• When sitting, your pelvis tends to tilt backward, disrupting the spine’s natural S-curve, causing strain and discomfort.

• Standing helps the pelvis maintain its natural upright position, preserving spinal alignment and reducing pressure on the discs and surrounding muscles.

According to a study by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, 68.6% of office workers suffer from health issues such as eye fatigue, neck and shoulder stiffness, and especially back pain. This is a direct consequence of spending too much time sitting.

Standing desks are, therefore, a "golden solution" that allows one to adjust posture flexibly, minimizing the adverse health effects of poor posture or staying in one position for too long.

Prolonged sitting causes serious health problems for many office workers in Japan, such as eye strain, neck, back, and shoulder pain.

1.2. Reduces the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Sitting for more than 10 hours a day silently increases the risk of serious cardiovascular diseases. This habit slows blood circulation, facilitates fat accumulation, and weakens the circulatory system. According to Dr. Erin Michos from Johns Hopkins University, changing this habit is necessary. Stand up and move every hour to minimize the serious consequences of prolonged sitting. (Reference source)

Additionally, switching from sitting to standing wakes up your body and boosts blood circulation. Standing regularly helps blood circulate evenly throughout the limbs, significantly reducing the risk of dangerous blood clots. Therefore, using standing desks in daily work protects cardiovascular health and helps maintain a healthier and more energetic body.

Flexible switching to standing helps pump blood evenly throughout the body and reduces the risk of blood clots.

1.3. Maintains Focus

Compared to prolonged sitting, standing helps maintain alertness and reduce drowsiness. When standing, blood flow to the brain increases, providing more oxygen and nutrients to nerve cells. This improves concentration and allows for quicker information processing and more accurate decision-making during work.

Standing improves blood flow to the brain, helping you stay alert and maintain high focus.

1.4. Mood improvement

Standing stimulates the release of endorphins—natural hormones that significantly improve mood. These neurotransmitters reduce work stress and bring long-lasting refreshment and positivity.

Changing your posture from sitting to standing encourages your brain to produce "happy hormones" that improve mood and ease long-term work stress.

1.5. Boosts Work Performance

Standing desks offer comprehensive benefits for both physical and mental health, including preventing back pain, enhancing blood circulation, maintaining alertness, and promoting positive emotions. When physical and mental states are at their best, employees perform more efficiently and handle tasks faster. As a result, work quality improves, and the workplace becomes more dynamic and inspiring.

When the body and mind are in peak condition, a standing desk is an ergonomic solution and a key to higher work productivity.

2. Should You Use a Standing Desk?

Answer: Standing desks are effective furniture devices that are worth considering. However, instead of fixed standing desks, you should prioritize models with flexible height adjustment, allowing you to switch between sitting and standing as needed.

These desks offer several outstanding advantages:

• Optimize comfort and health: Alternating between sitting and standing reduces strain on muscles and joints and promotes better circulation than maintaining one position for too long.

• Increase work flexibility: Easily adjust desk height for different tasks.

• Suitable for various users and body types: Adjustable-height desks cater to different users’ body shapes and preferences within the same office.

• Adaptable to various activities: Standing desks are versatile, suitable for presentations, group meetings, and casual use. Premium models with wheels also allow easy repositioning.

• Long-term investment: A multifunctional desk that adapts to diverse demands is a sustainable, cost-effective choice for businesses.

Investing in a flexible standing desk reflects modern trends and supports businesses in enhancing employee health and productivity.

3. Discover 2 Impressive Height-Adjustable Standing Desks in 2025

Currently, at Okamura—Japan’s leading premium furniture brand—you can easily find a variety of standing desk models with innovative lifting mechanisms, meeting every need and modern working style:

• Fixed standing desks (non-adjustable height): Soliste, Workflex, Oree, etc.

• Flexible standing desks (adjustable height): Risefit and Swift. However, Risefit is better suited as a supplementary desk for presentations, training, or short-duration tasks.

To effectively meet various work needs and improve health, prioritize the two height-adjustable desk models: Risefit and Swift.

3.1. Swift - Adjustable Desk

Okamura's Swift desk is an ergonomic solution made in Japan with an electric height adjustment system, allowing smooth transitions between sitting and standing. With a sleek and modern design, it can reach up to 125 cm in height, reducing spinal pressure and enhancing employee focus.

Rounded edges and anti-collision technology ensure optimal comfort and absolute safety during use.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: Depth 60–80 x Width 100–180 x Height 65–125 (cm)

• Materials: Resin and steel

• Color options: 8 tabletop colors and 3 leg colors (white, silver, black)

This product stands out with its smooth and precise electric height adjustment system, allowing users to customize their ideal working position effortlessly.

3.2. Risefit - Adjustable Desk

Made in Japan, the Risefit desk features a simple manual lift mechanism, offering convenience and flexibility for any workspace. Its minimalist design, lightweight, and caster wheels allow for easy mobility across different areas.

The wheels have convenient locks to secure or release the desk when moving. As a standing desk, Risefit can reach a maximum height of 100 cm. It is ideal for presentations, teamwork, or tasks that don’t require long periods of sitting and promotes dynamism and creativity.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: Depth 62.6–64.1 x Width 72 x Height 66.5–100 (cm)

• Materials: Wood, resin, aluminum, steel

• Color options: Prize Wood Light, Medium, Dark; White; Neo-wood Light, etc.

With a refined design and a wide variety of tabletop color options, Risefit fits seamlessly into various interior spaces.

4. Where to Buy High-Quality, Modern Standing Desks

To own a high-quality, modern-looking standing desk, businesses should prioritize purchasing from reputable showrooms or authorized dealers. This allows you to experience and evaluate the product's material and durability directly and provides expert consultation and clear warranty policies for complete peace of mind.

To experience and own premium Okamura standing desks, you can refer to the detailed store location HERE.

Come and feel the difference that Okamura brings to your workspace.

In today’s modern lifestyle—where we spend most of our time in front of screens—optimizing the workspace is more critical than ever. A standing desk is more than just furniture; it's a smart investment in your health and productivity.