Post: #1

This came on the radio the other day whilst I was working. The overview is that standing at work, rather than sitting, is far better for your general health as your body is getting some exercise. I think the quoted statistic was 'standing for three hours a day every day of the year is the equivalent of three marathons'. Be that snappy statistic as it may, I am interested in the underlying effects, particularly on the mind.

Now, I'm lucky enough not to be a cubicle monkey- but my least productive times are when I collapse in my workshop with the laptop on my lap. We've all been there- once you start clicking on things, it's hard to drag yourself back to work. Sometimes I don't even want to read the articles, but I'll click rather than get up out of my chair and back to work. I hate this self-induced state of sloth, but it can be hard to break.

So to link this to the study. For the next week at least, my comfy chairs are banished and my laptop is staying on the bench. I will not attempt to restrict my internet access, but I must be standing and not even leaning on the bench to use it.

Feeling good so far, but I think two tabs of Modafinil, a profitable job finished today and a good gym session are the underlying causes there...

Gentlemen, I would welcome your thoughts.

Post: #2

(06-21-2014 11:18 AM)roberto Wrote:  [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27939985]The overview is that standing at work, rather than sitting, is far better for your general health as your body is getting some exercise.
Gentlemen, I would welcome your thoughts.

I know this is the fad now, but hopefully this isn't new news to anyone? The last thing was sitting at your desk with a stability ball to work your core.

Post: #3

I heard that the people who have to stand up at work, for example those who work in retail, develop professional diseases over time, such as varicose veins.

Post: #4

(06-21-2014 11:35 AM)Brodiaga Wrote:  I heard that the people who have to stand up at work, for example those who work in retail, develop professional diseases over time, such as varicose veins.

Yeah, but he's talking about something like 3 hour intervals.

Post: #5

'Treadmill desks'.

I want to get one.

Post: #6

I have a standing desk at work. So, I stand all day. Since I switched to a standing desk, I no longer have any back or neck pain at the end of the day and I think it has helped my posture a lot. Supposedly, it puts you at less risk for colon, testicular, prostate or stomach cancers, and heart disease. We'll see.

Post: #7

My job involves me walking around, sometimes at a very fast pace, for forty hours a week. It's kind of great because I can just eat any shit junk food and never seem to put on fat. In college, where I basically lived behind a computer monitor, I had to watch my diet and drinking somewhat.

Post: #8

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I have one. If I'm really tired or have a sore legs/back I don't want to stand though. Not wild about the swopper chair.

Post: #9

Thanks K-bell. I did search, but 'working' and 'standing' are very common keywords!

Tried sitting down this morning to get some urgent quotes done. Within five minutes I was back to standing- sitting just seems to make me instantly listless.

Post: #10

I've heard those inflatable balls are good for you balancing on them all day helps with your core.

Post: #11

When I first came to Taiwan, I spent about seven hours per day on my feet, and not just standing still. I lost 10kg in the first month, but being "on" (i.e. concentrating, talking, etc.) the whole time also made me extremely sick, which may have contributed to the weight loss, because a lot of it was muscle also. At the end of each day (after some office time also), I was completely wiped out and unproductive in my free time.

Post: #12

My job requires me to stand for 8-10 hours at a time. At the end of the day your feet hurt like Hell depending on the shoes you wear and what you are standing on. Also your feet and ankles swell up.

Post: #13

Is sitting unhealthy? I'm no doctor maybe it is maybe it isn't, however I definitely think this whole don't sit thing is a huge fan. Every other day is some article sitting is worse than smoking a pack a day, sitting can give you blood clots, sitting will make you die 15 years earlier. Definately seems like the new fad. Probably some truth to is but I dont think its this huge issue. Do people need to get off their fatasses and be more active yes, is sitting the biggest problem facing the us, no .

Post: #14

For long term standing you need to move a bit, and have some sort of padded floor or pad to stand on. A sit stand desk allows you to take breaks standing and keep working.

The problem with sitting is you tend to slouch over time and that can put pressure o the spinal cord over time. Your neck also tends to get tight, as well as hamstrings and the muscles that connect the legs to the waist. I frequently foam roll to relax those muscles since I can't stand at work often.

Post: #15

You actually do not want to work like literally "standing up". That means when you're at work, stand up for 1-2 minutes every 30 minutes. Because that increases circulation and cuts the risk of insulin resistance that sitting initiates. OK?

Post: #16

(06-22-2014 05:42 AM)Carlos100 Wrote:  I have a standing desk at work. So, I stand all day. Since I switched to a standing desk, I no longer have any back or neck pain at the end of the day and I think it has helped my posture a lot. Supposedly, it puts you at less risk for colon, testicular, prostate or stomach cancers, and heart disease. We'll see.

Since I started doing heavy deadlifts, I don't have any back pain anymore.

Since I started doing clean and jerk and snatch, I don't have any neck pain anymore.

I sit all day long.

Post: #17

I alternate between sitting and standing every 20-30 mins at work (have a manually adjustable standing desk). It feels great, I have to warm up way less when I hit the gym afterwards.

Post: #18

I don't think sitting is that bad. Cavemen sat on their asses all the time for thousands of years. Or did you think they hunted mammoth 8 hours a day?

Post: #19

I'm training to be a nurse.

On clinical placements, which are 9 hour shifts, we stand for a long period of time, but we walking at such a brisk pace that we do not risk getting veracious veins.

Sometimes if I have been standing ideal for too long, I will sprint or jog when the walkways are not too busy...but I do my squats and deadlifts and core exercises so I don't think this will be a problem.

Also standing forces me to maintain a good posture along with the core exercises I have ben doing.

the more overweight nurses at my current hospital struggle the most and do less shifts, unsurprisingly.

Post: #20

Caveman didn't have reclining chairs and computer either. When your leaning back in a chair to use the backrest and trying to right, your putting shoulder and spine in odd angles for long periods of time. It really effects on muscle as well which connects the legs to the hips.

Post: #21

It's almost like our modern way of life is deleterious to our health. No way.

Post: #22

Back when I worked in retail I was on my feet for ~32 hours a week.
When I hear people complaining about their feet hurting after standing stationary for about an hour, I just want to scream at them for their weakness.

Post: #23

I wish I had a standing desk, back in my cubicle-farm days. I'm pretty confident sitting contributed to my frozen shoulder/upper crossed syndrome.

Post: #24

I wasn't aware that prolonged standing can cause varicose veins. I'll have to watch out for that because I currently stand the entire day at my desk. I don't sit at all.

Post: #25

Obligatory: