Standing desks: The new health risk nobody saw coming

Many sedentary workers have switched to standing desks to negate the side effects of sitting for too long. Altering between sitting and standing is believed to balance the posture and help fix the health issues that arise from sitting for long hours.
However, a new study has found something terrible in connection with this new trend that office goers are believing to be healthy.

Standing for more than 2 hours can cause circulatory issues

The researchers from New University of Sydney have shown that over the long-term, standing more compared with sitting does not improve cardiovascular health (coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure), and could increase the risk of circulatory issues related to standing, such as varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis.
The findings of the study have been published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. For this researchers studied the data of 83,013 UK adults taken over a period of 7 to 8 years. The participants were free of heart disease.
“Standing has gained popularity among people looking to offset the harms of a sedentary lifestyle often caused by spending long days sitting in front of the computer, television or driving wheel. Standing desks have become a popular option among office workers, and in other industries like retail, workers may opt to stand instead of sit,” the researchers have said. “However, their efforts may not produce the intended result.”

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

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

Both prolonged sitting and standing can negatively impact health, leading to issues 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 weight periodically can alleviate pressure on the lower back and legs. Using adjustable desks or sit-stand workstations encourages alternating between sitting and standing, promoting better posture and movement. Incorporating gentle exercises, such as walking, stretching, or light yoga, can further counteract the negative effects of immobility, enhancing overall well-being.
“The data used in the study was not explicitly collected on standing desk usage; instead, it measured the cardiovascular and circulatory impacts of increased standing. Standing desk use in this study likely contributes a very small fraction of total standing,” the researchers have said.