Standing desks: the new health risk no one saw coming

Many sedentary workers have changed standing desks to negate the side effects of sitting for too long. Switching between sitting and standing is believed to balance posture and help address health issues that arise from sitting for long hours.
However, a new study has found something terrible about this new trend that office-goers think is healthy.

Standing for more than 2 hours can cause circulatory problems

Researchers at the New University of Sydney have shown that, in the long term, standing more compared to sitting does not improve. cardiovascular health (coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure) and could increase the risk of circulatory problems related to standing, such as varicose veins i deep vein thrombosis.
The results of the study have been published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. For this, the researchers studied the data of 83,013 adults in the United Kingdom taken over a period of 7 to 8 years. Participants were free of heart disease.
“Standing has gained popularity among people seeking to compensate for the damages of a sedentary lifestyle often caused by spending long days sitting in front of the computer, television or steering wheel. Standing desks have become a popular choice among office workers, and in other industries such as retail, workers may choose to stand rather than sit,” the researchers said. “However therefore, their efforts may not produce the intended result.”

“The key thing is that standing for too long will not compensate for a sedentary lifestyle and could be risky for some people in terms of circulatory health. We found that more standing does not improve long-term cardiovascular health and increases the risk of circulatory problems,” said Dr. Matthew Ahmadi, lead author of the study.

If both sitting and standing for long hours is harmful to health, what is the solution?

Both prolonged sitting and standing can negatively affect your health, causing problems such as poor circulation, back pain and joint strain. The solution lies in finding a balance between movement and posture. Incorporating regular breaks and varying your position throughout the day is key. For those who sit for extended periods, standing up and stretching every 30-60 minutes can improve circulation and reduce muscle tension.
Similarly, for people who stand for long hours, sitting down or shifting your weight periodically can relieve pressure on your lower back and legs. using adjustable desks or sit-stand workstations encourage alternating between sitting and standing, promoting better posture and movement. Incorporating gentle exercise, such as walking, stretching or light yoga, can further counteract the negative effects of immobility, improving overall well-being.
“The data used in the study were not explicitly collected on standing desk use; instead, they measured the cardiovascular and circulatory impacts of increased standing. Desk use standing in this study likely contributes to a very small fraction of total standing,” the researchers said. .