Back pain is one of the most common health conditions in the UK, with almost 80% of people expected to suffer from lower back pain at least once in their life.
For those who work in sedentary desk jobs, the condition can be even worse, with the lack of activity leaving you at risk of injury and chronic pain.
As someone who has had chronic back pain his entire life, I wanted to try and make adjustments to my workspace to see if it would have an impact.
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Many physiotherapists recommended ergonomic desk setups, which essentially involves using a combination of office chairs, monitors and desks to ensure your spine is kept as straight as possible and that you avoid hunching.
One of the most popular solutions for this is a sit-stand desk. While these aren't the cheapest desks out there, they use electric motors so they can be adjusted exactly to your height and allow you to stand up regularly during the workday.
I tried the FlexiSpot E8 standing desk, and much to my surprise, it had a great positive impact on my back pain.
Delivery and assembly: The desk arrived in two separate packages, with one large box containing the desktop and the other holding the electric stand and control system. Setup is remarkably easy, with the paper instructions providing a quick way to assemble the desk. However, the weight of the desktop is seriously hefty so you might need an extra pair of hands when it comes to screwing in the stand.
Cable management: If you're anything like me, your workspace likely has a mess of wires and cables running all over the place. The desk comes with some simple cable management features, including two holes drilled on either side of the desk as well as a metal tray which can be used to hide wires underneath. Coupled with off-the-shelf cable ties and a clamp-on monitor stand, it's quite simple to keep the desk clear of clutter. Be warned though: you need to keep the wires long enough that they don't get pulled out when you adjust the desk to standing height.
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Sit / stand functions: The sit / stand control panel is really easy to use, and consists of two main touch-sensitive buttons which raise or lower the desk to your preferred height. There's also a digital display which tells you which height the desk is at. There is also a feature which lets you create height presets, although if you generally only use the desk in two positions, this isn't that crucial to a comfortable setup.
Finish and size: Perhaps my main criticism of the desk is its finish. My unit had a plain black finish. While this is easy enough to keep clean, it's not very durable compared to the desk stand.
As with any desk, wear and tear can be caused by using a computer mouse directly on the surface, so it's recommended to use a mousemat or pad underneath your keyboard and mouse to keep it in good condition.
The desk I got was also very large and took up a lot of space, so make sure you do your measurements before ordering your unit. (The company does offer smaller, more compact models on its website.)
Overall, using FlexiSpot's sit-stand desk along with a head-height monitor stand has really helped my posture and back pain compared to my previous desk setup. If you're looking to minimise strain on your back while you work, it's a strong option, if not the most affordable solution out there.
Right now, FlexiSpot does have a Black Friday deal on its website which means you can get up to 30% off its desks. Offers end on 30 November, so now might be a good time to take a look.
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