The ups and downs of standing desks

On opening day, March 29, all 30 MLB baseball teams will start off with the same standing. The Detroit Tigers (W-64, L-98 in 2017) will have the same standing as the Cleveland Indians (W-102, L-60). But it’s a long way to the season’s end in October, and through the season the standings probably will change many times.

According to Australian researchers, when standing positions change, that’s a good thing. As harmful as it is to be sedentary and sit down a lot (it leads to heart disease, obesity, anxiety and depression and certain cancers) standing for too long isn’t a good idea, either.

In their study, published in the journal Ergonomics, the researchers found that doing computer-related work at a standing desk for two hours caused participants’ feet to swell, and their reaction time and mental state to deteriorate. This comes on the heels of a 12-year study that found that people who had “standing” jobs (everything from being a waitperson to a coal miner) had a two-fold increase in their risk of heart disease compared with folks who got to sit down while working.

So what should you do? Lie down on the job? Well, naps do help some folks (Google allows it), but the real lesson is that standing, sitting and moving around should all be part of every day. Using adjustable desks that allow for various positions is a great idea. Stretching and moving every hour is another one. Incorporating movement into every opportunity (stairs not elevator, bike not drive, walk not sit) is brilliant!

Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. To live your healthiest, tune into “The Dr. Oz Show” or visit sharecare.com.