Prolonged standing can distress body
DEAR DOCTOR: I always thought standing desks were good for you. Now I read they might not be. Can it really be better to sit all day long?
DEAR READER: The primary concern lies in the connection between prolonged sitting and obesity and the corresponding connection between obesity and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, although sedentary lifestyle is itself a risk factor. Additionally, sitting may place greater pressure upon the lower back than standing, which can lead to chronic back problems, and staring at a computer screen can cause greater neck and shoulder discomfort.
Some people thought the answer to these problems was a standing desk, but a recent study was a disappointment. The authors found that, although actual muscle fatigue did not change for the muscles of the lower back and the hips, participants’ reported discomfort rose consistently for every body part, especially the lower back, hips, thighs, buttocks, knees and ankles. Further, curvature of the lower spine
decreased over the two-hour period, thus putting more pressure on the lower back. Also, the lower legs swelled slightly with prolonged standing, and alertness and concentration declined slightly.
However, the study didn’t compare these results to measurements of the same people sitting, so it really wasn’t comparing the effects of sitting in a chair against those of using a standing desk. All it showed, in effect, was that detriments can accrue with prolonged standing.
What may be best is a workstation that gives you the option of sitting or standing. A recent analysis combined data from 12 studies assessing the benefits of sit/stand desks. Compared to people who didn’t use sit/ stand workstations, those who did showed significant reduction in lower back pain. Notably, those studies that allowed people to choose when they wanted to sit and stand showed a greater decrease in lower back pain than did studies that specified a certain amount of time for sitting and standing. With either, you can minimize strain by taking breaks to move around and stretch.