Benefits from building at a standing table?

[Orange Leader]

I'm thinking of getting a standing table for building LEGO. Fact is, I spent most of the time sitting. So in my free time , I want to sit as little as possible.

I have some back and shoulder ache at the moment, so It's also a decision about my health.

My question to AFOLS that built while standing: What are your experiences and benefits (and drawbacks)?

[duster408]

I say try it out. I'm the opposite, I stand most of the day at work so I sit at my workbench to relax. I would highly recommend getting a mat to stand on. I use a 1/2" thick foam connecting blocks at work, much better than the hard rubber.

[fred67]

My experience with a standing workstation is that, after a while, you really want to sit. At the very least, having a step to alternate having one leg bent at a time will help. Back problems are not really easily resolved simply by standing - they can be worse; it all depends on what your problem is and how you are standing or sitting. The idea of using a mat is great... I never thought of trying that, but our exercise room is covered with them and it's a joy to walk on.

The benefit of standing is merely the fact that you're not sitting, which can cause problems with blood flow and muscle degeneration... most of the other problems aren't really from sitting, but from the way people sit, especially if they slouch - and if they slouch sitting, they'll probably slouch standing up. I read an article a couple of weeks ago that suggested five minutes of walking can alleviate the problems of an hour of sitting.

If you're going to stand, an adjustable height is beneficial. Some people where I work merely have high desks that they can stand at, but they also have high chairs for when they want to sit; another "demo" workstation we have has the crank to adjust the height of the desk. Since we're all different heights, it seems silly to think that fixed height can work for a significant number of people.

On the whole, I like the idea.

[emilstorm]

If you are lucky enough to have "unlimited" Lego time you could get an adjustable desk. That would allow you to alternate, which is supposed to be the healthiest. My own limited experience is that I ended up only sitting down though. So just make sure you have a comfy chair :)

[Vorkosigan]

If you're always standing, I don't know, but if its adjustable height that would be nice. At my work several people have gotten those with a powered raise / lower mechanism. Gotta be expensive though.

[alanyuppie]

Yes we all know doing stuff standing up is good for well being.. But I can't see myself building LEGO in such a way. However... during my MOCing sessions (usually sitting on the sofa in the living hall/room), I deliberately keep some trays of specialized odd and ends parts 20 feet away in another room. This forced me to stand up and fetch them as my need arises . So in a typical 1 hour buildng session, I actually might have clocked about 500 feet of solid walking distance. heheh.

[talos]

At my job, they got us each a sit-stand table, it had a motor that would raise the entire thing up to a preset height, and then back down to sitting height. They took ergonomics pretty seriously. I liked to be able to stand part of the time.

I like to stand up when I work on my Lego, part of the time. Usually when I am trying to find certain parts, my parts drawers are easier to see when standing. So I might stand up to find a part, fiddle with it with what I am building and then sit down again to work some more...

[deraven]

I'm with the majority of people here who say it's nice to work/build standing, but it's best to have the option to sit as well. If you have the budget for it, one of those motorized sit-stand tables are great. if you don't, a great option is to simply get a standing table but then a high work chair. That is, a standing-height table to work at, but then also a bar/standing height chair so you can still sit at your high table just as if you were at a regular desk height when you need a break from standing. There's plenty of options for what is essentially a regular desk chair on a high, stabilized stool stand with addition foot rest area that you can use at a high table, like this inexpensive example.

That might get you the best of both worlds without the cost of a convertible system.

[grum64]

Experience: None

Drawbacks: One comes to mind

Edited January 26, 2015 by grum64

[mpfirnhaber]

I never build on a table. LEGO just isn't the same if I'm not sitting on the floor :)

[Cloveapple]

Oddly enough sitting does tend to be harder on your back than standing, so the standing table might help with that. However, "might help" doesn't mean will. Why not try a small project on a kitchen counter as a test of how it feels? (Of course that would be after letting any significant others know that it it's only a brief test, and that you are not planning to take over the counter long term!)

Edited January 26, 2015 by Cloveapple

[Orange Leader]

Thanks everyone for the insightful comments! I have tried building a poly bag model at kitch table height, and my back and shoulders didn't like It at all. So for now no standing table for me. At the moment I do a lot of routine standing and walking when sitting behind a desk, so It's manageble. Different routines for your body is the key I suppose.

[tedbeard]

Thanks everyone for the insightful comments! I have tried building a poly bag model at kitch table height

Oh good lord that was a bad idea!!! The suggestion was a kitchen COUNTER. Tables are designed to be used while seated countertoips are designed to be used while standing. The height difference is not huge but it does make a big difference to your body.

Sorry, I have done too many ergonomics sessions through my work on the building health and safety committee.

[Orange Leader]

Glad It was a poly bag then.

And sorry for not interpreting advice correctly, I was standing though. I will try to build something small on a real kitchen counter next time.

[dr_spock]

You should try different heights to see which one you're comfortable with based on the task. I used to work in a factory assembly line and stand all day. Some of the stations have adjustable heights since everyone is not the same size. I felt stronger working at the factory than at the IT office job.

[alanyuppie]

Shall I say I've yet to reach greater heights in my LEGO building.

[JohnnyBrix]

If you're always standing, I don't know, but if its adjustable height that would be nice. At my work several people have gotten those with a powered raise / lower mechanism. Gotta be expensive though.

yes i agreed, adjustable ones can be expensive, but standing has great benefits!