Many people stand all day for work or are beginning to use standing desks. As a chiropractor, I know how bad back pain can be and why people are often concerned that standing for long periods could be bad for their backs and health. With standing desks becoming more popular, standing all day has become a normal part of many peoples’ workdays. But is standing good for you? The answer isn’t so simple because there are some pros and cons to standing at your desk for 8 hours a day.
As a general rule, standing all day is healthy and does not significantly affect your health. Standing all day can be physically exhausting and cause discomfort in some parts of the body. The best way to avoid potential problems is by making sure you take regular breaks from standing throughout the day.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits and drawbacks of standing all day and offer tips on choosing between sitting or standing while working! Let me explain why you should read this: For almost 30 years, I’ve worked with patients (like you!) practicing chiropractic; I’m also a trained ergonomist; I’ve published a book on posture; spoke on this subject on national tv; engineered several solutions to improve comfort while sitting, and had a successful Kickstarter campaign for a posture correcting device. So, I’m confident I can impart practice and helpful advice on the pros and cons of standing all day in this post!
Is It Healthy to Stand All Day?
Standing is a natural human posture and does not pose a health risk in and of itself. Nevertheless, standing for extended periods can lead to problems including sore feet, swelling of the legs, varicose veins, general fatigue, low back pain, stiffness in the neck and shoulders, and other health problems.
Most people understand how their body begins to tire and hurt after a few hours of standing. While standing for long periods is not necessarily unhealthy, you should always listen to your body. If you feel tired, take a break from standing by either going for a quick walk or sitting for 10-15 minutes, especially if you suffer from back pain.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Standing All Day?
Pros: Standing may improve blood circulation, which could help with cholesterol levels; it also burns more calories than sitting still, which makes standing at work a good solution for weight loss if done correctly.
Cons: One downside is standing too long (as for an eight-hour shift) can lead to hip pain or low back pain syndrome due to prolonged pressure on specific areas of your feet, such as your toes or ankles.
The perceived benefits included improvements in several health-related areas such as well-being, circulation, skin integrity, reflex activity, bowel and bladder function, and digestion.
A standing desk can be a good option to potentially avoid back pain for some people. However, prolonged standing also comes with many of these outlined problems. For this reason, they may not be the best option for people with back or knee pain since standing can also cause chronic pain in those areas.
Is Standing Desks Better Than Sitting?
Standing up all day has many benefits. You will burn more calories standing than sitting, leading to weight loss and a healthier waistline. Standing is also better for the cardiovascular system because it helps blood circulation.
There are some cons of prolonged standing that you need to be aware of:
- Leg cramps.
- Back pain.
- Muscle fatigue in knees and legs.
- Increased risk of DVT (deep vein thrombosis) or POTS syndrome (postural orthostatic tachycardia).
- Varicose veins from prolonged standing without breaks.
When standing for prolonged periods of time, it is important to take breaks every 30 minutes to prevent discomfort or pain in the feet. Wearing athletic shoes or sandals instead of formal shoes, and taking time to walk around can also help. Another option is to take breaks and sit on a stool while working at a standing desk.
Many of my patients commented that standing desks have been found to increase productivity by reducing distractions caused by moving between activities. They also allow for more continuous work, as there is less need for frequent breaks. Additionally, standing desks may be more comfortable as standing is a more natural posture.
Is Standing 8 Hours a Day Bad For You?
Standing for 8 hours is bad because standing in one position too long causes your blood pressure and heart rate to rise, as well as standing-related fatigue according to a 2012 study. So we should change our posture while standing up by stretching the neck muscles and back periodically.
Intermittent stretching can help to prevent discomfort or pain from prolonged standing. It can also prevent any discomfort or pain that may come with fluid buildup in the arms and legs that can occur when sitting for long periods of time. Also, it is important to stand on a flat surface to avoid any discomfort or pain. Remove any clutter, cords, etc. around your workspace.
We’ve all seen the standing desk trend, and it’s clear that standing is a more natural position for our bodies. But many people are worried about standing too long, so let’s consider whether this could be bad for you.
If you stand up straight in your office chair, with good posture, without moving, you’re probably fine staying standing indefinitely (you should switch out your shoes and socks, however). If those periods where you need to work on other tasks do not happen often enough, such as when someone else takes over your task for a few minutes or even an hour, prolonged standing may lead to serious health problems down the road.
Also, standing has been shown to increase blood pressure and heart rate ̶ standing for 8 hours a day can lead to standing-related fatigue, making it harder to concentrate or even be productive.
Standing for a long time can have drawbacks, but standing all day does not automatically equal bad for you.
Standing may be good if it’s done with the proper posture and in moderation – standing more than about two hours at one stretch is likely to cause problems ̶, so make sure that your standing breaks happen often enough! It doesn’t hurt to take these standing breaks because they’ll also let you move around.
I’ve written a complete hands-on review about why your stomach hurts when standing, and here are some of the shocking issues I ran into in this post!
Intermittent Standing
While standing might not cause much harm if it takes place only occasionally, there are some consequences when it becomes a regular occurrence. Standing too long may cause fatigue, which can result in difficulty concentrating or, worse, decrease productivity. A prolonged period of standing has also been linked to increased blood pressure and back pain. Standing all day for work can be tiring, so take frequent breaks.
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Intermittent Sitting
When you intermittently sit at your desk, it’s essential to take steps to avoid pain and discomfort.
- First, try to find a seat that has good back support. This will help you avoid soreness from sitting in the same position.
- Second, try an ergonomic seat cushion. This position will help to keep your spine in alignment and prevent pain.
- Third, take breaks often to walk around and stretch your legs. This posture will help keep your circulation going and prevent you from feeling stiff and sore.
- Next, get your seat height as high as possible while maintaining both feet on the floor. This will help to keep your legs from falling asleep.
- Finally, try to stay relaxed while you’re sitting. If you can find a way to relax your body, you’ll be less likely to experience pain.
By following these tips, you can make your workday a lot more comfortable.
Best Seat Cushion for Intermittent Sitting
I explain the concept of my ergonomic design on a TV show HERE
I have been a chiropractor for almost 30 years, and during that time, I have seen countless patients suffering from back pain. I have tried many different seat cushions, but I never found one that was perfect for my patients.
I’ve written a complete hands-on review about memory foam and here are some of the shocking issues that I ran into in this post!
I was looking for a product that would offer support and comfort while also promoting better posture. After researching, I decided to design my own seat cushion and test it on individuals who were experiencing discomfort or pain in their back. Arrrh!
After many iterations, I created a cushion that was successful and well-received by those who tried it. It provided support and comfort while also promoting better posture. I decided to make this product available to the public. If you are looking for a solution for discomfort or pain in your back, you may consider trying this cushion.
Best Seat Cushion for SittingDoctor's Recommendation
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Product DetailsResearch-based Design
Recommended ForBack Discomfort
Video Guide
Video Guide
If you are into super easy and inexpensive alternatives to office chairs, I wrote a fantastic article on how and why you should consider these options for back pain and I encourage you to read it!
When it comes to finding relief from back pain, I believe that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, I have found that a good seat cushion can make a difference, especially for my patients with back pain or sciatica. I’ve written a complete hands-on review about the best sitting position for sciatica and here is what I tested best with my sciatica patients.
I designed a cushion using natural latex and 4-way stretch vegan leather, to create a durable and comfortable cushion that is easy to clean. After months of testing different prototypes, I settled on a design that I believe can provide comfort to many people. If you are looking for a comfortable and super easy-to-clean cushion, you may want to consider trying mine.
I explain the concept of my design on a TV show HERE!
Standing Can Cause Acid Reflux
Standing for extended periods can cause acid reflux, so we must discuss the adverse effects of standing all day on our digestive system! When standing too much, your stomach will be pushed up against your diaphragm, and this will inhibit digestion.
As a result, you’re more likely to experience constipation or diarrhea.
Furthermore, if standing is causing increased stress levels, some studies link prolonged periods of standing with gastric ulcers (small lesions) in the lining of the stomach and esophagus; not good news for those who want their food journey to last a while longer than anticipated.
Finally, many people complain about back pain when they stand all day. It’s worth considering how standing all day can affect your back, as standing for too long has been linked to a higher risk of lower back pain and sciatica ̶ which is why you should stand up now and again (yes, you’ll have to get out from behind that desk!).
Conclusion
It’s crucial to find the right balance between sitting and standing. Standing all day can lead to back pain, knee problems, and other health issues while sitting at a desk is easier on your eyes but may be detrimental to mental well-being if you have an office job that requires most of the work done from behind a computer screen.
Finding this middle ground will allow for more breaks without feeling guilty about being lazy or not getting enough exercise. Those who are unable to stand up as often as they should due to long hours spent working might be worth investing in some anti-fatigue mats or furniture so that there are no-slip hazards when walking around near desks.
Sources
- Gallagher, Kaitlin M., Troy Campbell, and Jack P. Callaghan. “The influence of a seated break on prolonged standing induced low back pain development.” Ergonomics 57.4 (2014): 555-562.
- Nelson-Wong, Erika, and Jack P. Callaghan. “Changes in muscle activation patterns and subjective low back pain ratings during prolonged standing in response to an exercise intervention.” Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 20.6 (2010): 1125-1133.
- Janice J Eng, Stephen M Levins, Andrea F Townson, Dianna Mah-Jones, Joy Bremner, Grant Huston, Use of Prolonged Standing for Individuals With Spinal Cord Injuries, Physical Therapy, Volume 81, Issue 8, 1 August 2001, Pages 1392–1399, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/81.8.1392
- Reiff, C., Marlatt, K., & Dengel, D. R. (2012). Difference in Caloric Expenditure in Sitting Versus Standing Desks, Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 9(7), 1009-1011. Retrieved Jun 21, 2021, from http://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jpah/9/7/article-p1009.xml