To Sit or to Stand? ̶ That is the Question
Thursday January 28, 2016
Most people these days have a desk job, which used to mean sitting behind a desk all day. Fortunately that no longer has to be the case. Some people with desk jobs now have the option of alternating with a standing position. This is made possible with a sit-to-stand workstation.
Although sitting has been demonized for the past decade it does have some advantages, mainly, with the proper chair you can support your spine in a fully neutral and relaxed position. The disadvantage of sitting is that it is sedentary. Being sedentary for long periods of time during the day is unhealthy. That''s where standing can help.
Standing makes it easier to move around. And anyone using a standing workstation shouldcontinuously be moving. A slight sway left and right or forward to back, a slight rotation to one side and the other, or a slight bounce up and down. The advantage of standing is movement. The disadvantage is no support and pooling of body fluids in the lower legs/feet. That is why people using a standing workstation preferably would wear supportive athletic shoes, compression socks, and stand on a padded surface.
When you combine the advantages of correct sitting (back support) with the advantages of standing (movement) you make a desk job a healthier place to be. There are varied opinions on how long you should sit vs. stand throughout the day, but I think a person should try to neither sit nor stand continuously longer than about 40 minutes at a time. So alternating every 40 minutes or so would be ideal.