Standing Desks “Increase Pain” and Slow Down Mental Ability, Study Suggests

[Megalith]

There is increasing evidence that standing desks do more harm than good: in a new study, researchers at Curtin University in Australia found that they actually increased discomfort in the lower back and lower limb regions of participants, while reducing mental reactiveness.

Professor Alan Taylor, a physiotherapy expert at Nottingham University, said: “The bottom line is that this expansion has been driven more by commercial reasons than scientific evidence. But the evidence is catching up and it’s showing there are some drawbacks. They are not a panacea for back pain, yet companies are worried that if they provide them they’ll be sued.”

 

[NeoNemesis]

Staying in one position for an extreme amount of time is bad. Standing desks are great in that you have the ability to change position when one position becomes uncomfortable. I don’t think they were ever meant to be used for 8 hours at a time.

I don’t have a standing desk, but I do stand periodically just to get the blood flowing a bit.

 

[DeathFromBelow]

'After intensive research, we've discovered that sitting really is more comfortable than standing.'

 

[viscountalpha]

It's important to not sit or stand. OurObodies weren't built to be stuck in one position 8hrs a day for 40 to 50hrs a weekw

 

[Ultima99]

Surprise!

Maybe we need to wake up to reality and realize that if we're serious about health then people should be given regular breaks instead of being expected to sit or stand in one spot for 8 hours.

We might even see higher productivity if workers got a 10 minute break every 2 hours to walk while they converse with coworkers. This could provide major health benefits and reduce stress because the monotony is broken up plus we won't feel the need to stop and talk to people all day because we get designated time to walk and talk each day so we're more productive while we're actually working.

 

[gordon152]

It's important to not sit or stand. OurObodies weren't built to be stuck in one position 8hrs a day for 40 to 50hrs a weekw

Maybe your un-evolved body, but mine is.

 

[viper1152012]

Best health first job I had was in insurance where we had to take 15 minutes every 2 hours to stand and move around to prevent blood flow issues.

 

[viscountalpha]

Maybe your un-evolved body, but mine is.

When a blood clot kills you from sitting too long, you only have yourself to blame.

 

[umeng2002]

I would say for mindless positions like Marketing, HR, and other ones that don't do actual work, it's harmless.

When you really have to use your brain, you need all that blood in your head.

 

[Nenu]

When a blood clot kills you from sitting too long, you only have yourself to blame.

I sieve mine out.

 

[WhoMe]

It's important to not sit or stand. OurObodies weren't built to be stuck in one position 8hrs a day for 40 to 50hrs a weekw

I don't, I do everything from bed...one advantage of a bad back it seems.

 

[MMitch]

Did I miss something ? Aren't almost all jobs including a break every 2h or so ? At least a break to eat after 4h ?
I mean, anyway, if you get a break after 2h but decide tu stay sit and call your wife.... will we also blame the industry ?

 

[Wrench]

Sitting is the absolute worst thing for your body, weak abs tight lower back, weak hip flexors, posture suffers shoulders round the list goes on.

 

[MaZa]

Sitting is the absolute worst thing for your body, weak abs tight lower back, weak hip flexors, posture suffers shoulders round the list goes on.

There is nothing wrong in sitting down, its staying in one position without moving that is bad. Standing up for 8 hours straight all muscles tensed up with barely any motion is just as bad as sitting down like a wet noodle. When sitting down, we need to stand up and move periodically or when standing up we need to sit or lay down periodically and let our muscles relax and rest.

 

[steakman1971]

I've been sitting at a computer desk for over 35 years - probably 8-12 hours daily as a guess? At work, I do walk and talk a few times a day doing normal work stuff. I will stretch when I feel the need to.
I had to go to a new conference room where I work - standing desks only. It was a freaking joke. I was very uncomfortable, the desk was not adjustable (not sure what moron bought the furniture) - just a bad idea.
I have a coworker that bought a giant ball and tried to use it. He fell over one day and I hurt myself from laughing so hard. (He was ok after the fall).

 

[cyclone3d]

I would say for mindless positions like Marketing, HR, and other ones that don't do actual work, it's harmless.

When you really have to use your brain, you need all that blood in your head.

So we should have upside down desks and something that hangs you upside down all day so the maximum amount of blood will be in our heads?

If an inversion table was used, that would help with spinal compression as well.

 

[Mchart]

Surprise!

Maybe we need to wake up to reality and realize that if we're serious about health then people should be given regular breaks instead of being expected to sit or stand in one spot for 8 hours.

We might even see higher productivity if workers got a 10 minute break every 2 hours to walk while they converse with coworkers. This could provide major health benefits and reduce stress because the monotony is broken up plus we won't feel the need to stop and talk to people all day because we get designated time to walk and talk each day so we're more productive while we're actually working.

Experience, common sense, and studies have also shown that our standard 5 day work week is crap. You generally will only get decent work out of office workers for about four days a week. I’m not sure why the US keeps pushing for such long hours for jobs that aren’t about producing X number of widgets per hour.

 

[Uvaman2]

Experience, common sense, and studies have also shown that our standard 5 day work week is crap. You generally will only get decent work out of office workers for about four days a week. I’m not sure why the US keeps pushing for such long hours for jobs that aren’t about producing X number of widgets per hour.

True, so true.. either 4 day or 5 days of 6 hours. To me 6 hours no lunch is the best, most productive.

 

[spine]

They watched 20 random people for 2 hours.

That's it. This is hardly a 'study' !

 

[HorseproofBacon]

Try standing on nothing but pavement in a warehouse for 40+ hours a week with only a random 1 hour lunch break (random because it's literally at a random time, whenever the boss feels like it. Usually after 3 hours of work then you get to come back for 5 hours straight. Yay).

My lower back is starting to really hurt after 4 years of this...

 

[DoubleTap]

I got a sit-stand desk about 6 years ago. I did the up and down thing a few times per day for maybe the first year but it was not fun and didn't make me feel better and it made it hard to work.

I still like the desk - the adjustability is great and I can raise it up to clean underneath but I think you're better off just going for a walk and taking breaks...

 

[SixFootDuo]

Some very prominent Doctors in Sports Medicine disproved "Standing Desks" years ago. All you have to do is open your eyes and open your ears and it helps if you have common sense in your brain. Not many do.

There are a multitude of editorials and stories on how "Standing" at a desk is basically worthless.

The argument is that people sit all day at their desks. Well, no they don't. There's lunch, meetings, visits with co-workers, breaks, trips to the coffee maker, water fountain, restroom breaks, general walking around your office area, stretching at the desk, walking to and from the parking lot/garage, etc etc.

No one has ever sat at there desk for 8 or 9 hours without moving. It's silly, it's all BS. And I hope none of you believe in this gimmick.

There was a huge 60 Minutes segment on this very subject where they basically destroyed the notion you need to stand. Some other shows along the way have disproved this social gimmick.

 

[Dullard]

Tried one. Hated it.

 

[Mchart]

Some very prominent Doctors in Sports Medicine disproved "Standing Desks" years ago. All you have to do is open your eyes and open your ears and it helps if you have common sense in your brain. Not many do.

There are a multitude of editorials and stories on how "Standing" at a desk is basically worthless.

The argument is that people sit all day at their desks. Well, no they don't. There's lunch, meetings, visits with co-workers, breaks, trips to the coffee maker, water fountain, restroom breaks, general walking around your office area, stretching at the desk, walking to and from the parking lot/garage, etc etc.

No one has ever sat at there desk for 8 or 9 hours without moving. It's silly, it's all BS. And I hope none of you believe in this gimmick.

There was a huge 60 Minutes segment on this very subject where they basically destroyed the notion you need to stand. Some other shows along the way have disproved this social gimmick.

It's common sense to anyone that has worked shit jobs before like retail, warehouse, etc. After a full day of standing it kills my lower back.

 

[Dead Parrot]

I can see a standing desk as a useful variation from sitting. Butt starts to get sore, stand for 20 or 30 minutes. Having to stand and stare at a screen for long periods seems a good revenue generator for back doctors.

 

[Rahh]

My desk at work raises and lowers and I really like that. I'll sit and stand throughout the work day.

 

[IcePickFreak]

Anyone want to help fund my study that not working is more relaxing than working? I think I'm really on to something here!

 

[Deleted member 278999]

Tried one. Hated it.

Never understood why they design standing desks like this. Every time I open my drawers my junk falls out.

 

[katanaD]

They watched 20 random people for 2 hours.

That's it. This is hardly a 'study' !

I had hoped you were just joking.. sadly no.

WOW, so barely an afternoon doing their research. Im sure they needed a nap after that.

 

[Unexploded]

Not shocking. It's nice to have the option to stand on occasion, but if you're going to be doing it all day long, you really need a treadmill desk. I'm still guilty of forgetting to use the thing when all hell is breaking loose at work, but otherwise I can't say enough good things about them.

Once you get used to it, it's a game changer for back problems brought on by too much sitting. Enabled me to get back to the gym and moving decent weights again.

Still can't play FPS games while using it though. Everything else is fair game.