Saying goodbye to back pain with a height-adjustable desk frame
If you want to maintain good posture without giving up your own setup, a height-adjustable desk frame is perfect. I compared a cheap model with an expensive one and will share which won me over.
Like most office workers, I spend a third of my day at my desk, followed by more hours sitting around hunched over like a prawn. I’ve long known this isn’t healthy. I’m now also feeling it in my neck. Annoying – but a good warning sign to finally change the situation.
Where I started
A few years ago, my boyfriend and I decided to buy desks for our creative hobbies. We wanted tables we could easily dismantle and move around as we wished, like in a studio. We cut two table tops to size, placed each on two wooden trestles and reinforced them with a post underneath. And voilà – the «studio spaces» were ready. I’m sure you won’t be surprised to know they haven’t moved a single inch since then, let alone been dismantled.
Source: Stefanie Lechthaler
The short version of my story of suffering: table top too high, bought an office chair, office chair too high, bought a footrest. During this odyssey, the pain spread from my back to my neck and down to my lower back. Conclusion: the table’s got to go!
Which is the right one?
I like my current table top and it matches the other one in the «studio room». So, the perfect solution’s a height-adjustable table frame for me to attach to my beloved table top.
First attempt
There’s a huge selection to choose from and, apart from dimensions, I can’t see any obvious differences. My pick is the UP30 from Albatros International, primarily because the table frame is relatively light compared to the others at 15 kilos. And as an attic resident in a building without a lift, I’m grateful for every last gramme I don’t have to lug up the stairs.
At first glance, the frame components appear solid. During assembly, the spanner slips out of my hand and causes a slight scratch on the surface. Annoying. I notice that the quality really leaves a lot to be desired when I have to screw two screws so deeply into the metal that the inserted rod bends and all the paint peels off where it’s been screwed. Only then does the big shock come: the depth of the frame isn’t compatible with the table top. I’d overlooked the depth of 58 centimetres when I ordered it. My fault. Everything wobbles – it’ll never hold. I need a different frame.
More schlepping – yay.
Source: Stefanie Lechthaler
Nice – when it works
I play it safe and order the IB-EW206B-T from Icy Box. The Community has given it almost exclusively good reviews. And with a minimum height of 62 centimetres, I can also set it quite low and test which height is best for me. The UP30 is 70 centimetres, which, as it turns out, would’ve been too high for me.
So, the dimensions are right and, with a depth of 62 centimetres and a maximum load of 125 kilos, it should be able to handle anything. But especially my table top. This frame is twice the price of the first one – but hopefully twice as stable. The only thorn in my side is, the IB-EW206B-T is also quite a bit heavier than the 15-kilogramme UP30 at 24 kilogrammes. So, it has to be the right one.
It works!
The second package knocks me off my office chair. There are two recesses at the front and back so I can grip the heavy package properly. I know the bar’s low here, but I’m delighted. This manufacturer knows its customers. It’s a smart piece of design that saves me more back pain.
The package contains more stable and high-quality parts this time, along with a control unit that takes my breath away for a moment. Do I have to programme it? I have no idea, but I’ll come to that later.
Source: Stefanie Lechthaler
It takes me less than half an hour to assemble. There are seven individual parts that I can easily put together and screw together according to the instructions. I place the frame upside down on the table top and screw it on. Here, too, the manufacturer’s had a stroke of genius. To stop the table top resting directly on the frame, studs are supplied to sit between them. Finally, I screw the control unit onto the desk.
According to the instructions, the next step is the cables. I study the process carefully and immediately realise my fears were completely unfounded. This step’s incredibly easy. I place the control unit on the rail, run all the cables to it and that’s it. To prevent the relatively long cables from flying around, Icy Box has provided three cable clips.
Source: Stefanie Lechthaler
Despite the weight, I can turn the table over and get it in the right place on my own pretty easily. However, it’d be easier on my back if two people did this step – in line with the experts’ recommendations.
Programming
When the table frame is powered up for the first time, I have to reset it to the factory settings by pressing the up and down buttons at the same time for a few seconds. The table moves to its minimum height once, then it’s ready to use. To find the perfect position, I can choose between manual height adjustment and the memory settings. Exactly 68.9 centimetres when sitting and 100 centimetres for the standing position are the heights where my thighs are at a 90-degree angle to my shins and it’s the same for my forearms and upper arms. As required for ergonomic workplace equipment.
Source: Stefanie Lechthaler
With just two finger presses, I’ve already assigned these two heights to memory buttons 1 and 2. I leave the third memory button empty. If I touch one of the programmed buttons from this moment on, the table automatically moves to the correct height. If I don’t touch the control panel for ten minutes, the table goes into sleep mode to save power. If I want to change the table top position again, I have to hold the «M» button for five seconds to deactivate standby mode. It’s a bit awkward, but no big deal.
Source: Stefanie Lechthaler
If I want the desk to remind me to change my position, I can set a timer. This beeps at the set time, but doesn’t change the table position. A nice thing to have, but not for me.
Source: Stefanie Lechthaler
A long overdue investment for my back
There’s nothing bougie about it! With the height-adjustable frame, I can keep my beloved table top and still protect my back. I’m surprised – I never imagined that the assembly and programming would be so quick and easy. I’m also surprised by the differences in quality between the models. If I’d bought the higher-quality model from the start, I could’ve saved myself the hassle of lugging it around. Most importantly, my back has been much better since I did.
Want to level up your health game even more? Michael Restin joined Anne Chapuis, who runs 25 kilometres on the treadmill every working day.
Header image: Stefanie Lechthaler
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Painting the walls just before handing over the flat? Making your own kimchi? Soldering a broken raclette oven? There's nothing you can't do yourself. Well, perhaps sometimes, but I'll definitely give it a try.
