The best standing desks for working at home, tried and tested – do they really relieve back pain?

The best standing desks are life-savers for anybody who has to eke out a living at a desk, whether working at home or in an office Why? Because, according to Susie Martin, chartered physiotherapist at Complete Pilates, sitting on a chair for hours on end is a very bad thing. "There’s increasing scientific evidence that sedentary lifestyles are a major contributing factor to many chronic health conditions," she says.

“Sitting for long periods we tend to slump under the weight of gravity and often crane the neck forward. Our deep neck muscles, back muscles, lower stomach muscles and legs get less opportunity to work in a slumped sitting position. Our upper backs tend to get stiff and chest muscles tight. We can get aches and pains associated with long periods in this position."

Standing desks can be raised and lowered, either electrically or by hand, allowing you to alternate between sitting and standing. With manufacturers like Yo-Yo, Sit-Stand and Flexispot competing over price and performance, they have become increasingly popular, especially since the rise in working from home.

“Anyone with a condition which is exacerbated by sitting – for example, a prolapsed intervertebral disc, tailbone pain or high hamstring tendon pain – might find a standing desk helps them to continue working, instead of having to take breaks or take time off.”

There's more information about the health benefits of standing desks and advice on how to use them at the bottom of this feature, after my reviews. But if you're in a hurry, here's a quick look at my top five:

"There are two main types," explains Martin, "If you have an existing desk that you want to continue using, you could just purchase a converter standing desk. This is simply a height-adjustable platform for your monitor and keyboard that sits on top of the desk or table you already have.

"A rising standing desk is a whole desk that’s height-adjustable and which allows the user to work at a comfortable height when standing, but which can then be lowered for working while seated, usually via electric motors or by manually turning a crank-type handle.

"Far less common, but an interesting alternative option, are treadmill desks: basically standing desks wrapped around a treadmill, which is obviously a significant step up in energy expenditure terms, as the user is constantly using their legs. 

"There are also bike desks. It isn’t technically a desk as such - it’s an exercise bike with a platform for your laptop - but it does allow users to exercise their leg muscles while working in a seated position."