What is Varidesk and will it help reduce back pain when working online?
In our unique review we’ll cover this product from a therapist’s point of view.
When it comes to working online, most of the time you’ll be seated in front of your desk, staring at a computer screen for hours on end.
This can lead to several health problems, one of which is poor posture.
Sitting in one place for hours is never a good idea. I always recommend regular breaks to head outside, recharge, and exercise.
But not everyone can afford to take a break. And it’s normal to become so engrossed in work that you lose track of time.
You might have spent the entire day slouched in your office chair, straining to see the monitor, without even realizing it.
This is one of the leading causes of back, neck and shoulder problems. Not to mention eye strain, headaches, & long-term chronic medical issues.
Luckily, there are ways to avoid these problems.
How you ask?
- Maintaining healthy ergonomics while working. Which means having good body position with proper alignment in relationship to the task you are working on.
- Being able to move and change your position throughout the day.
Since everyone is different, there’s no go-to solution that will solve everyone’s problems.
But there are quite a few adjustable desks, chairs, and monitors that can take some strain off of your back, neck and eyes.
In today’s article we’ll take a look at one desk in particular, known as Varidesk.
Just in: Check out this review on the StandTall Workstation, it offers more adjustments and costs less than the Varidesk. I’ve been using it for 6 months and love it!
What is Varidesk?
Varidesk allows you to increase the height of your current desk without having to purchase an entirely new desk.
The product is placed on top of a regular desk and you can place your monitor, keyboard, and other office paraphernalia on it as you would a regular desk.
Like this..
The great thing about Varidesk is that it’s adjustable, two simple levers on the side of the desk can be used to increase or decrease the height.
This is perfect for people who work in offices or spend a lot of time looking at their computers screens.
Why is Varidesk Important?
Because most of the time you’re looking down at your screen.
This makes your neck point downwards, thus curving the spine.
This can have a devastating effect on your posture, painful knots can occur in your upper back and neck to generate headaches and upper back pain.
Maybe you know what I’m referring too.
Varidesk raises your monitor so that it’s at eye-level, there’s no need to slouch or be looking down – so you don’t have to sacrifice your posture.
In the long run, it saves you on pain, med bills, and going to therapy.
By making a preventative decision to alter your work environment to meet the needs of your body, you’ll have improved the quality of your life.
Varidesk does a great job of adapting your environment to do just that.
Here’s Amazon’s Latest Prices for All Varidesk Models if You’re Interested >>
What I like about Varidesk?
The product is shipped as-is, there’s no assembly required.
You just have to place it on top of your current desk and then place all your monitors, mouse, and keyboard, in their designated areas.
Though this desk can be used in a seated position, it was mainly designed for people who wish to continue working while standing.
Since spending all day seated can lead to health issues, one thing that you can do to relieve stress is stand up and work.
Occupational/Physical Therapy Tip: Standing while working will also encourage you to move a bit more and take some stretch breaks throughout your day.
But with most desks this is not possible.
Varidesk makes it easy!
Now, when you want to stretch your legs simply push down on the side levers and the desk will rise, locking in place at the desired position.
There are different levels to choose from to accommodate people of various heights.
There’s also no need to worry about the desk falling over, it’s extremely sturdy and very durable.
Even at it’s maximum extended level it doesn’t shake at all.
Varidesk: Our Favorite Models:
There are several different Varidesk models out there, and in this section we’ll talk about our favorite models.
1. Varidesk Adjustable Standing Desk Pro 36 – $395
This is the largest Varidesk model and the priciest, ideal for small businesses and office space.
The model comes with one platform for all of your office items (keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc) it doesn’t have a separate section for each item.
The shipping weight is about 47 pounds and the dimensions are 36 x 27 x 5 inches, no assembly required.
The great thing about this model in particular is that the surface space is quite large, enough to fit two 24 inch monitors side-by-side.
The maximum extended height is 15 inches, more than enough to level the monitor with your eyes.
There’s is no separate keyboard and mouse tray with this model.
What I liked most about this model is the size, it’s enough for everything to be in one place.
There’s also a 5 inch gap between the product and the desk you place it on, a small area that’s perfect for a laptop or office supplies.
2. Budget Choice: Varidesk Adjustable Standing Desk Pro Plus 30 – $375
This model is slightly cheaper than the previous model and it’s smaller as well.
If you only have one monitor and you don’t need a lot of space, this model is perfect for you.
It’s ideal for single-monitor setups! 
The Varidesk Pro 30 weighs about 41 pounds and has the following dimensions: 30 x 27 x 5 inches.
This model does include an extendable tray for your mouse and keyboard.
It has the same maximum extended height as the Pro 36 at about 15 inches.
What I liked most about this model is that it’s small and doesn’t take up much space, it’s perfect for single monitors.
3. Varidesk Adjustable Standing Desk Cube Corner 48 – $495
This is an interesting desk because it’s designed for cubicle corners.
The Cube Corner 48 is mainly for people who work in offices, specifically in cubicles.
What makes this desk stand out is it’s size, the surface area is triangle shaped, and can fit two monitors with room to spare.
It also includes a lengthy keyboard and mouse tray that covers the entire length of the desk.
Though pricier, it does include much more space, and it can snugly fit into cubicle corners.
There’s also a small area in the middle of the desk where you can place a laptop or documents.
This model has the following dimensions: 33.5 x 48 x 4.5 inches.
The Cube Corner 48 Varidesk is unique because not only is it larger than the previous models (and can fit in corners) but it can also extend higher, the maximum extended height comes to around 17.5 inches.
So this desk is ideal for people who need a lot of space, work in cubicle corners, and who are slightly taller than the average person.
A Therapist Point of View on Varidesk:
What is Varidesk to me as an Occupational Therapist? An absolute winner for anyone that spends a good deal of time working on their computer.
Varidesk corrects the typical posture that harms people who work at a traditional desk.
Here’s a quick reference as to how you should site and stand in relation to your computer.
As an Occupational Therapist that’s gone to working predominately online, I have suffered from a few chronic pain injuries. My problem was always looking down on my laptop causing too much chin tuck.
This eventually gave me horrible upper back and neck knots that disrupted my life to the point I needed serious intervention.
I know how to deal with these issues as a therapist, but they got the best of me. By switching to a Varidesk, I eliminate this chronic problem and improve my online working posture on a daily basis.
This pays off huge dividends to your health in the long-run.
Varidesk will help you reduce the risk of repetitive stress disorders that lead to long term chronic pain and health concerns.
Problems that involve nerve impingement and myofascial pain issues from head to toe.
Our Conclusion with Varidesk
To conclude this Varidesk review, these desks are a little pricey but they do save your back and make it easy for you to avoid spine issues, the investment is worth it.
Click Here to See Which Varidesk Model is Right for You…
Let’s also not forget that there’s a life-time warranty on these products, and they’re extremely durable.
So now when you work you can raise your monitor to your eye-level so you don’t need to bend your back nor over-tuck your neck (This was my issue).
Of course, remember that it’s always important to take breaks as well, stretch, do some basic range of motion of the neck, head, arms, back and legs.
A little exercise gets more blood flow to the brain and enhances work performance. It’s a win win solution.
Now you know what is Varidesk and whether this product is right for you.
Want to learn more about working online?
Here’s My Top Recommended Training >>
Please let us know your thoughts and share this post socially, you might help someone.
Best,
Todd
Awesome review. Since I’ve been using mine, I find my posture is better, back pain gone, and I enjoy working more.
Great review on Varidesk, spot on.
Great Marc, thanks for the feedback on you experience with Varidesk.
How Todd. This is a very interesting product. Ergonomic working chairs are quite common nowadays, and to be honest, not all of them really help a bad posture. I’ve learnt from my experience the only way to correct our posture is by conscious effort, no chairs can help it. What I like about the Varidesk is how it can be extended upwards so that you can work while standing up. That’s a huge flexibility!
Hi Isaac,
You do have to pay attention to your posture, no doubt about it. But there are some subtlle things that you can do to help remind you and strengthen good posture patterns.
For example, if you drive, set your mirrors to your posture. So you’d have your head straight, chin slightly tucked, and your shoulders back. Then you set the the mirrors to this position and you’ll find it easier to maintain good posture while driving.
Varidesk is the same to some degree for online workers. If you’ve got the height set up to fit your body and puts you in a good posture, you be able to maintain that posture easier.
Thanks,
Todd
You are so right. Sitting down at your desk is not healthy. I am so addicted to my work and it is so fun to me. But I spend to much time sitting down. Health wise I need to get up and out more.
Varidesk is a very nice product. Great innovation and a fair price considering all the long term benefits.
And I am glad that it comes ready to use with no assembly!! Worth the investment. Thanks for the informative and helpful review.
You bet my friend and I’m glad you realize the value of one’s health. Varidesk is a really innovative product and so valuable to anyone who spends a considerable amount of time on the computer.
If you like working online and your quality of life, check out Varidesk and you won’t look back.
Thanks,
Todd
Hi Todd,
Love this idea, although thoroughly cheesed off with the whole concept. I spent all my working life sitting slumped over desks or standing slumped over work benches or machinery.
All work furniture was one-size-fits-all so we just lived with it. Now I can have an adjustable work level/desk to suit my exact requirements. Everyone should have one. Why didn’t I think of that ? Best wishes, Chris
I hear ya Chris and sympathize. To have a custom office like Varidesk provides makes all the difference in ones work productivity and health.
If we’re in pain due to working long periods of time with poor posture, it really has a profound effect.
Before going through the Occupational Therapy program, I didn’t pay much attention to posture or ergonomics.
One day, I had the opportunity to meet a massage therapist that worked at a Hand Therapy clinic that I was interning at and I learned a few valuable lessons.
The one lesson that stuck was taking in the concept of gravity and the roll it has on our posture.
Pretty simple really, but if you think of the pressure that gravity plays in our existence, you start to realize how this can effect your life for the long haul.
Imagine the Turtle Neck (called in therapy) when one is driving. Slumped shoulders, neck bent forward, chin protruded forward. Then look at that posture from the side and you will see the start of a Hump Back.
Over time, you’ll find a different looking person if you don’t pay attention to your posture.
Varidesk allows you to set this up correctly to actually force you to work with good posture.
Thanks for your feedback,
Todd
What a great idea – I love the look of Varidesk. When I started working more online I had my laptop on a normal height desk, and I have had all sorts of neck problems and headaches.
I never matched the two things until I sought help from a chiropractor (very expensive!) and we worked out through a timeline of problems, that my working posture was to blame.
I now have it sitting on top of my printer, to keep my eyes looking up, but looking at the Varidesk that might be an even better option, so I can adjust the height depending on how I’m feeling on a particular day.
Thanks for profiling this and I’m sure it will help a lot of people.
Hi Mara,
Thanks for your awesome feedback on our Varidesk review, much appreciated.
You’ve mentioned a good point that should strengthen your decision to get a Varidesk model or something similar to it.
Have the ability to change positions and maintain a good posture is the key to working on your computer for substancial amounts of time.
I think if you make the investment in Varidesk, it will pay off in the long run ten fold.
Great article Todd!
I am at my desk as we speak and Varidesk sounds just what I need. My partner was on a face time call the other night and her friend saw me slouched over my computer and commented so I need to raise my computer a bit higher and I would like to stand at times while typing.
Varidesk sounds like the perfect solution.
I will check it out further. Thanks for making me aware of what is out there. Appreciate it,
Have a brilliant week,
Kev
Hi Kev,
I know man, I totally hear you. Varidesk makes working online much healthier. It’s easy to get engrossed in your work and forget about your posture.
I think everyone does this to some degree. At least you got some good feedback that hopefully will inspire you to get one of the Varidesk models.
Add in an occasional stretch and exercise break and you’ll be working online for years to come without any pinched nerves or neck strains.
Thanks for your feedback and take the plunge and get one of the Varidesk models. That way you can set your posture in a good position and then focus on your work again.
Cheers,
Todd
Awesome article about Veridesk. I am working on computer everyday about 7 – 9 hours. Recently, i am suffering with back pain. I am searching for solution for it i think, am at right position. Now i am interested to purchase it. Please try to provide more information about health related article more which helps alot. Thank you
Hi Brahma,
I have a site based on my experiences with Occupational Therapy, but I just don’t have time to develop it. But you’re right, it’s a fun topic and probably more interesting than all the stuff I do here on Learn To Grow Wealth Online.
I’ll take your recommendation to heart though. There are a good amount of helpful products that can help people from a therapeutic standpoint.
For your back, take my suggestions and break up your day. Try to take a break per hour and just do some basic range of motion. Stretch out your back and do some basic Yoga positions/stretches.
And take one hour per day and do some exercise, it will help your body and mind. And if your work set up is not good, get one of the Varidesk models and get yourself into a good working position. Seriously, it makes all the difference.
Thanks for your feedback on our Varidesk review and take care,
Todd
Wow!! this article really hit home! I spend hours every day on the computer and my posture is definitely suffering because of it. I love the Varidesk models, they looks very tidy and stylish too. What a great idea. I’ve never heard of this before or even anything remotely like it. Thank you!
Hi Hannah,
Yeah, Varidesk has created a really solid product that’s very functional and so beneficial to people like you and me.
You really have to watch your posture and take occasional breaks to stretch and get a little movement when you’re working hours on end at the computer.
I think that you’ll find Varidesk well worth the investment. Take even a couple of physical therapy sessions and a doctors visit and you’ll have covered the cost of any one of the Varidesk models.
Thanks,
Todd
Awesome review on Varidesk. I work online and I think this product will work perfectly for me.
Thanks
Great Bree, thanks for your feedback and I think you’ll do well with any of the Varidesk models.
The key is to be able to change your body position in order to maintain your health.
Thanks
Great review,
I will definitely need a varidesk or similar in the near future.
At the moment I still have my “day job” and I work as a Restaurant Manager so I’m always on my feet and a bench in the restaurant is my “standing desk” but that will change when I start writing from home full time.
I will be keen to have a standing desk or even a treadmill desk at home so I can keep burning the same calories I do now.
Your site has been bookmarked.
Best regards,
Alison
Awesome Alison,
Thanks for your feedback on working online and Varidesk. I think it’s a good investment to anyone spending multiple hours working online.
Do it for your health and longevity.
Thanks,
Todd
At work one of the biggest health issues that has been brought up is posture in the workplace. Working at desks for long periods of time, over years can be really bad on the body. What I do love about the Varidesk is that it can be retrofitted saving costs on brand new desk set ups. When you mention the actual height of the Varidesk adjustable standing desk pro 36 as 15 inches, does this mean that it can be set at different heights?
Absolutely Keldyn,
The Varidesk height can be adjusted to 11 different heights just by pushing on the side levers and raising it to wherever you like.
Varidesk has really done a great job at creating a very functional and simple product. It’s easy to use, no assembly, and will save you thousands if you ever suffer from any type of chronic pain.
Thanks for your feedback on our review and if you have a hunch that this will help you, follow through on it.
You be glad you did.
Best,
Todd
Todd,
Having back issues most of my life, Varidesk seams like one way to relieve this issue. I currently spend several hours a day on my laptop, I use my pub table to stand at now or a stack of milk crates in the garage. It does work very well and the standing makes for less back stress.
The Varidesk looks like a very good idea to change the location of my work space. How does this table top attach to the desk, I have a desk that closes up when not in use, I do not know if this is a solution to my current office space.
John
Hi John,
All Varidesk models come fully assembled and you just place them on your desk. They’re durable and don’t move.
I guess it would just depend on your work space setup and desk stability. As an Occupational Therapist I worked in community outreach programs to assess office ergonomics.
It’s amazing how so many online workers have poor work station set ups. Sometimes with their faces turning away from their bodies, or monitors too high or too low. You see people do all kinds of goofy postures.
You really can save yourself a lot of pain and money with the right work station. I feel you on the back pain issue. I’m always taking breaks and stretching and so forth.
Thanks for the feedback on our Veridesk review, you should definitely invest in one.
Todd
I like the VariDesk and think that it is a great idea, just to have the screen at eye level. The pro Varidesk model looks a little big as it is holding a laptop and a PC monitor. But there really isn’t much difference in price between it and the budget model. So I think I would be interested in the pro model. These are some great ideas to get up out of the seat and standing and walking, love em!
Thanks Matt’s Mom,
Really appreciate your feedback on our Varidesk Review. It’s a simple product that’s easy to use and functions great.
I think anyone who works online on a daily basis should look into getting one.
Best,
Todd
Buying something like this has been on my mind lately because this is a huge issue for anyone working in front of a computer all day-and even more so for internet marketers who get so engrossed in their work that they forget about their posture completely.
I have had a few days where my back was so sore the day after I had an intense day editing videos and recording stuff for my website that it really reminded me that this issue just can’t be ignored.
It is just not worth sacrificing you health for any amount of freedom you might gain from working online. Thanks for this excellent review. Will bookmark!
Thanks Liz, you’ve come to the right conclusion. If you’re not proactive now you’ll pay for it later.
Think of just one PT session of $110/45 minutes. for 4 sessions, you could have a Varidesk to your liking that puts your body in a good position to be able to work online for hours.
Then just take periodic breaks to stretch and move around and you’ll last a long time online.
Best,
Todd
Todd,
This article is great! You really know your stuff! Varidesk definitely sounds like a worth while investment and you have done a wonderful job communicating that! Great work!
Harper
Thanks Harper,
If you’re working online, make sure you have a set up that has your body positioned ergonomically, if not, you’ll have problems in the future. If your desk height is insufficient, get a Varidesk and adjust it to fit your body just right.
If you want to know what good posture should be, put your back up against a wall, include the back of your head and then you’ll be in alignment. It’s a bit extreme, but proves a good point. We should always watch our posture in whatever activity we engage in.
Best,
Todd
Wow Todd,
Your article is outstanding! Actually your entire site is amazing!
As a physical therapist myself, I can definitely give a testimony on what you talk about here. I don’t have a varisdesk but I am happy to know that a product like this has been made.
You covered all the things people should know and how to protect themselves from the pain and positions that can cause it.
I am trying to find a certain position myself, and it’s very important to know that pain arises after the harm is done.
So it’s much better to prevent!
Beside that, I have to say that I love your other articles, I am going to spend some time reading the rest of them..
Best,
Sunny
Hey Sunny,
How cool, thanks for the awesome feedback, especially from a PT. Also, your compliments on my site are much appreciated.
I worked as hard on this site as I did to become an Occupational Therapist. Good things come to those willing to work at it, perfect their skills, and be open to learn.
And it’s so true, to spend $400 dollars on something that can prevent numerous PT or Chiropractic appointments along with the discomfort and disability that comes with improper work stations can save you $1,000’s of dollars.
Not trying to hurt our profession. But we both know that one of the most ethical and important aspects as therapists is to educate patients to prevent illness.
Hey, if you’re looking to take your PT skills and bring them to life online, get your education on and don’t look back.
Thanks,
Todd